Legendary Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid while releasing a book on batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar ‘Born to Bat’ said that the master blaster was born to play cricket, not just bat.
“The first book I read was Sunny Days and I must have read it 25 times and I was inspired. This is what Sachin — Born To Bat can do. He was not only born to bat well, but born to play cricket,” Dravid was quoted by The Hindu.
“He’s blessed to be playing cricket in the television era. Cricket is played in the villages and every nook and corner of the country.
“What he has done is, inspired a generation of cricketers to play fearless cricket. They have all been inspired watching Sachin on television. I am privileged to have shared the dressing room with him for many years,” the report further added Dravid as saying.
Meanwhile, Ajit Wadekar is anticipating a special match and is hoping that Sachin’s gets a century in Mumbai, his home-ground.
"It is going to be a very special game. There will be anticipation. I hope he gets a century at home," former India captain Ajit Wadekar told the Hindustan Times.
"Even if he is 99% fit, and not 100%, he will not play. Sachin is different, he knows when to bid goodbye."
Another former India skipper, Dilip Vengsarkar, told the newspaper just why Tendulkar has the motivation to excel.
"He has the passion. He wants to see his country win. These are things that keep him going… Sachin has always done well at the Wankhede and could help India gain further advantage,” he said.