Sachin Tendulkar would have been best contemperory cricketer had he not retired: Syed Kirmani

Hyderabad: Former India wicketkeeper and member of the 1983 World Cup winner Syed Kirmani believes that Sachin Tendulkar would have been the best contemporary cricketer had he not retired. "There is lot of fluctuation and it is very difficult to compare. Each one has its own style and technique. I would have immediately said Sachin Tendulkar if he had not retired," he said. "There are many promising, young players who are in the making of high class, quality players who could become legends who can break some existing world records. At the moment, I don't see anybody who could be the best," he added. READ: Syed Kirmani foresees Ten10 as a future cricket format Stressing that a wicket-keeper has a vital role to play in leading a side to victory, Kirmani, who was here in connection with the recent Moin-ud-Dowlah Gold Cup cricket tournament, said he would like to contribute in whichever way he can to help improve the game in the country. The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a great platform for youngsters to showcase their talent and learn from seasoned players, said Kirmani, who played a crucial role in India's historic World Cup win in 1983. READ: Ravi Shastri’s appointment welcomed by Syed Kirmani "It's [IPL] a terrific platform to unearth talent, young talent who are on the bench to represent state level and then higher standards of the game and it gives an opportunity for those youngsters to share the dressing room with the world class players and to exchange some pleasantries and learn from those great players who they could emulate and put it into practice to help themselves," he said. The IPL T20 also brings the best out of an individual if he can adapt himself to the three formats of Tests, one-day match and the T20, Kirmani said. "It brings out the best of an individual to adapt himself from a five-day game to a 50 over and then 20 overs. If one can adapt these three formats, it speaks about the quality of the individual. There is different thinking, approach in the three different formats. It brings the best out of a cricketer if he can adapt himself [to the three]," he said. READ: Syed Kirmani: I attribute the high standard of my wicketkeeping to the spinners of my era He also recalled that the Moin-ud-Dowlah tournament provided him a spring board to reach higher levels of the game.