Sachin Tendulkar Praises Air India's Upgraded Cabin Experience, Airline Reacts

Air travel today is one of the most remarkable yet complex experiences of modern life. The evolving landscape of aviation is focused on comfort, cost, and convenience - where even small aspects of the passenger experience matter greatly. So when a celebrity makes a light-hearted remark about the service they received from a particular airline, it tends to attract attention and go viral. That is exactly what happened when cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar praised Air India after travelling on one of the airline's retrofitted aircraft. The sportsman shared that the upgraded cabin gave him a "new car feeling".

In a post shared on X, Sachin wrote, "Experienced the 'new car feeling' in a retrofitted airplane today... Safe to say, I spent more time looking around the cabin than out the window. Thanks to the Air India crew for a lovely morning." Not to be outdone, Air India responded to Tendulkar's post with a cricket-themed reply. The airline wrote, "Safe to say the retrofit hit the middle of the bat. Looking forward to seeing you on our pitch again soon, Master Blaster."

Also Read: Delta To Stop In-Flight Food And Beverage Service On 450 Short-Haul Flights

Safe to say the retrofit hit the middle of the bat. Looking forward to seeing you on our pitch again soon, Master Blaster. ???????? https://t.co/jgRebEuoBW

— Air India (@airindia) May 7, 2026

The exchange drew plenty of reactions on social media, with users praising both Sachin Tendulkar's post and Air India's witty reply. One user wrote, "Glad to see the legacy 787s finally getting fixed. The new ones are a massive upgrade from the old, broken seats."

Glad to see the legacy 787s finally getting fixed. The new ones are a massive upgrade from the old broken seats.

— Santanusingh (@Santanusin16) May 7, 2026

Another user added, "Yep, I love the new retrofitted planes, @airindia. Please use your new widebodies on Singapore-India routes because I love them!"

Yep i love the new retrofitted planes @airindia Please use your new widebodies on singapore to india routes because i love them!

— Viv Agral (@agralviv88025) May 7, 2026

Someone else commented, "Kamaal kar dala Air India ne. Sachin bhau approved!" 

Also Read: Yuzvendra Chahal Allegedly Caught Vaping In IndiGo Flight, What Are The Risks And Indian Aviation Rules

Kamaal kar dala Air India ne. Sachin bhau approved!

— dilipyadav (@dilipyadav6s) May 7, 2026

"Classic master blaster moment, when even the cabin upgrade becomes the highlight of the journey @airindia," read a comment. 

Classic master blaster moment, when even the cabin upgrade becomes the highlight of the journey @airindia

— Manavmeet Singh (@Manavvv31) May 7, 2026

Air India has rolled out VT-ANT, its first retrofitted B787-8. It's the first of 26 Dreamliners getting a complete nose-to-tail cabin overhaul. Inside, the two-class layout has been replaced by a modern three-class configuration with new seats and a fresh in-flight entertainment system. Even a new paint job was done. Specialists logged over 5,700 hours in 18 days to strip the old livery and debut the airline's new look.