In pictures: Tendulkar's farewell series

Sachin Tendulkar after scoring a world record-breaking double century (200 runs) during the second One Day International (ODI) cricket match against South Africa in India on 24 February 2010

Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar's farewell series begins at the Eden Gardens in the eastern Indian city of Calcutta on Wednesday, when India play West Indies in the first game of a two-match series. The 40-year-old former captain announced his decision to retire from all forms of cricket last month.

Indian workers adjust cut-outs of Sachin Tendulkar on a float made in honour of his second last Test against the West Indies in Calcutta, 3 November 2013

Authorities in Calcutta have made grand preparations to make Tendulkar's second-last Test match a special occasion.

Sachin Tendulkar stands in front of his life-size wax statue at Eden Gardens, Calcutta

A life-size wax figure of the master batsman is already on display at the stadium.

A man showing a ticket, bearing the picture of Sachin Tendulkar for India's Test match against West Indies in Calcutta

Tickets for the game carry the picture of Tendulkar.

This gold coin embossed with Tendulkar's face will be used in the toss for India's Test match against West Indies

A gold coin embossed with Tendulkar's face has been used in the toss for Wednesday's game.

Security men sit beside a cut-out of Tendulkar at the entrance to Eden Gardens, the venue of the first Test match between India and West Indies, in Calcutta

Cricket officials are planning to shower 199kg (440lb) of rose petals from the sky and hand out 67,000 Tendulkar masks to fans on the opening day of the game.

A fan of Sachin Tendulkar installed a bat and hoardings near Thane railway station in Mumbai

The master batsman will move on to play his final match in his home city of Mumbai next week. A Tendulkar fan has already installed a huge cricket bat near a railway station in the city.

School children in Moradabad paint their faces to pay tribute to Sachin Tendulkar's farewell series

And last week school children in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh painted their faces to pay tribute to Tendulkar's farewell series.