'Let Sachin enjoy his life'

The fact that Sachin happens to be a favourite for people of various age groups makes him a cricketer beyond his generation I would say, God sent him to play cricket for India and his name would stand tall for the next 100 years. He is a great ambassador for the game. He was a non-controversial cricketer and he never spoke but let his bat do the talking KIRAN MORE FORMER INDIA WICKET KEEPER

Kiran More belongs to the rarefied club of a few select souls who have enjoyed the pleasure of being the teammate of the little master besides occupying the hot seat of the chairman of national selection committee with Sachin Tendulkar as a player in the side. More had seen Sachin evolve as a cricketer from the time he made his debut against Pakistan in Karachi to the batsman who single-handedly carried the hopes of a nation.

The 51-year-old former India wicket-keeper, who made a gritty 58 on Sachin's entry match into the Test arena to help India avoid follow-on, avers that it's time for Sachin to enjoy his life post-retirement.

“He has spent more than half of his life to Indian cricket and world cricket. It is him who has etched the name of Indian cricket on the world map,“ said More. “It was his decision to call it a day . We shall respect it. I have seen him as a peer, as a selector and his absence is a big loss for the country . Millions of fans would miss the genius. The television sets in India have showed him play a lot over the past 25 years and one couldn't imagine a match without him,“ added More.

The fact that Sachin happens to be a favourite for people of various age groups makes him a cricketer beyond his generation. What would be the legacy of such a cricketer for the future?

“I would say, God sent him to play cricket for India and his name would stand tall for the next 100 years. He is a great ambassador for the game. He was a non-controversial cricketer and he never spoke but let his bat do the talking,“ mentioned More.

More further went on to dissect the day when Sachin batted with a bloodied nose during the fourth Test at Sialkot against a rampaging pace battery of Pakistan. “First thing was that we were worried about him. A kid was up against the might of Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. We were wondering inside the dressing room what would be the ball that would follow the lethal bouncer by Waqar. It was a full delivery and when Sachin drove it for a boundary we knew he was something special. It showed his class. He wanted to prove that he belonged to the league of the big boys,“ More revealed.

The stumper, as he was narrating, gave an impression that he was visualising the hundred the master blaster had scored in Perth in 1992. More said, “It was out of the topdrawer. I shared an 81-run stand with him for the ninth wicket. On a pacy track he was driving the ball on the rise.

From the non-striker's end it was a treat to watch. The Aussie slip fielders too could not restrain from showing their appreciation for the young Sachin. That partnership is one of my most memorable moments with Sachin,“ explained More.