‘Sachin Tendulkar ranks ahead of Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting and Rahul Dravid’

The author said that it is because of Sachin Tendulkar that India has done so well © Getty Images

By Graeme Pollock

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I am well aware of the euphoric farewell the people of India are according to Sachin Tendulkar. I have also been getting many calls. I hope his 200th and final Test match turns out to be a grand success. And I sincerely hope he does well and bows out in style.

World cricket will miss Sachin a lot. He has been one of the greatest batsmen and contributors to the game. I have met him quite a few times. He is a fantastic person. Despite all the success he’d had, Sachin has made it a point to remain humble. He is a thorough gentleman. And that’s how he will be remembered the most.

He is a perfect role model for youngsters. And it’s not just his batting that I am referring to; it’s also his manners. Be it those poor umpiring decisions (including the one in the first Test at Kolkata), Sachin has taken everything in his stride. Ditto with success and lean patches — he’s treated them all the same. He is one of the biggest icons ever and has been great for world cricket. He has changed the face of Indian cricket.

Tendulkar cannot be replaced. There are lot of youngsters, but we cannot see another Tendulkar. I am doubtful there will be such a wonderful cricketer. In today’s day and age, it is difficult to find one. It is because of the amount of time he has spent in cricket. He’s sacrificed a lot, including family time. Today, people are more interested in making a lot of money because of the IPL and other Twenty20 leagues. Test cricket is secondary. Play for 10-15 years and become financially strong. Tendulkar is different. He played for the love of the game and loyalty to his country.

I don’t believe in comparisons, least of all comparing players from different eras. Sir Donald Bradman and Tendulkar played decades apart. The game has changed completely. Bradman played in a different era. But as far as the modern era is concerned, Tendulkar is right at the top, ahead of the Laras, Pontings and Dravids. Tendulkar is a modern-day great.

I won’t like to choose one particular knock of Sachin because I have seen many and like all because he has been so good, technically. He has always looked great. He has always put the bowlers under some kind of pressure and always been in the control of the game.

It is because of Tendulkar that India have done so well. It was he and Rahul Dravid who guided them. Their positivity and competitiveness led India to the top. India have produced players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma because of his iconic presence. He was their role model.

We South Africans were expecting to see Tendulkar one last time, in December. But the people here are disappointed. However, there’s no better feeling than signing off at home and Tendulkar has done the right thing by playing his last Test in Mumbai.

I wish him good luck!

— As told to Taus Rizvi

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(Graeme Pollock is one of the greatest South African batsmen of all time, who played 23 Tests and averaged 60.97. One of the greatest left-handers the game has seen, Pollock’s career was cut short when South Africa faced isolation for their apartheid policies. The above article first appeared in DNA)