Published: Aug 18, 2015, 10:55 AM (IST)
Edited: Aug 18, 2015, 10:55 AM (IST)
Sachin Tendulkar was the next legend to pay his tribute to the retiring legend of Sri Lanka, Kumar Sangakkara, who is going to play his 134th and career’s final Test at Colombo, starting August 20. The former cricketer admitted that although he hated it when Sangakkara got going, it was incredible to watch a batsman who had his “knack of getting runs even when he was struggling at the middle.” India, who were considered favourites before the three-match series went underway, the hosts by pulling off a surprise win in the opener have shown their dominance at home. Their agenda seems to be very clear; a win in Sangakkara’s last series is what they want! READ– Virat Kohli: Kumar Sangakkara has been a wonderful player for Sri Lanka
According to a report from Times of India, Tendulkar who retired from international cricket in 2013, said: “He’s been a fantastic, world-class cricketer. It’s been great to watch him grow as a cricketer. Towards the beginning of his career, he wasn’t a big hitter of the ball. However, I feel that he really picked it up in the second half of his career, where he would change gears and attack at will, unleashing those big shots. It was part of his growth as a cricketer, and that comes with experience. Sangakkara exploited this experience beautifully. His consistency in this period was amazing. It was the sign of a world-class cricketer.”
He had his own style of batting. Left-handers are generally good to watch, and so was he. Of course, as an opposition player, I naturally didn’t enjoy watching him bat when he got going! Sangakkara has had a great, accomplished career. He has been a role model for not just the Sri Lankans, but for cricketers across the world,” the Indian batting legend added. READ: Rahul Dravid salutes Kumar Sangakkara ahead of his last international Test
Sangakkara has had an terrific record against the Indians, having scored 1302 runs in 16 Tests @54.25, with five hundreds and two fifties to boot. “It was great to play against him. Whenever we played against Sri Lanka, he was the danger man we looked to get out. I thought him to be a dangerous batsman because he had a special ability: Even though he looked uncomfortable in the middle, he had this knack for scoring runs,” Tendulkar said.
At the end, he congratulated the Sri Lankan on an incredible career and wished him good luck for his future outside cricket. “I want to congratulate Sangakkara on a glorious career: ”I wish him all the success in whatever he chooses to do next. Above all, I wish good health to both him and his family. An international career which lasts that long (15 years) is basically a combination of will power, desire, vision, dream, aspiration, self-belief and discipline.” READ: Kumar Sangakkara bids farewell to Galle after memorable win for Sri Lanka
