Kolkata: Former Australia Test captain Richie Benaud not only inspired the likes of Ian Chappell and Shane Warne but Indian great BS Chandrasekhar also emulated the Aussie legspinner of the 1950s.
"I was a great fan of Richie Benaud. I used to emulate him during my early days and somehow it clicked for me," the 69-year-old told budding leg-spinners of Bengal during a question-answer session on Monday.
The spin wizard of the late '60s and '70s also spoke highly of Warne and Anil Kumble.
"Shane is the only leg-spinner who can extract turn from a flat surface. I've never seen anyone else doing this. Among Indians, we had Anil Kumble. Talent is inborn and something that cannot be taught," Chandrasekhar told the youngsters.
In the city in connection with the Eden Gardens' 150-year celebrations, Chandrasekhar urged the youngsters not to copy any particular delivery.
"If you're not confident of bowling a doosra or a googly, don't do it. Try to bowl the deliveries you're confident of.
"Many told me to bowl with a bit of loop, something I was not very comfortable about so I stuck to bowling at flat trajectory," he recalled.
Later talking to the media, he picked Tiger Pataudi as the all time best Indian skipper and did not want to comment on the current set-up.
"I think Pataudi is all time best. I can't comment on the recent cricketers as I no more follow cricket much."
The former India leg-spinner might have had many memorable moments at the Eden Gardens but he picked his 51-run last wicket partnership with Bapu Nadkarni against England in 1964 as his best memory.
"We're about to collapse inside 200 but Nadkarni and I rose to the challenge and put on half-century together. It was the most memorable moment," he said.
