M.S. Dhoni hailed Sachin Tendulkar’s “immense” contribution to cricket here on Monday, stating that the Indian team would miss his experience and guidance in One-Day Internationals after the latter’s retirement.
“As you all know, Paaji has announced his retirement from ODIs,” Dhoni began, in his address to the media at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
“We’re disappointed we won’t see his 50th century in coloured clothing or his 100th half century — he was four short. He’s been an inspiration in encouraging thousands and millions of people to take up the sport.”
The Indian captain acknowledged Tendulkar’s role as an elder in the team. “As youngsters, when we came into the side, it was important to see how he prepared himself for a game,” he said.
“For him for each and every game was big. At the same time, he showed us how to be humble in life and how to digest success — one of the most difficult things to do.”
His own batting in ODIs had benefited from playing alongside Tendulkar, Dhoni felt.
“I personally learnt a lot from him — how to calculate [how to play] an innings, which bowlers we could attack and what the target in the next four or five overs should be, all those things.
His contribution is immense. His batting, his experience, the suggestions he can come up with — we’ll miss all that.”
