Tendulkar played alongside two of them in his debut international series.
Indian cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar turned 47 yesterday (24 April) and decided not to celebrate the event as a tribute to those who are working hard to fight against the Coronavirus. Apart from being a gem of a human being, the Mumbaikar was also a gem of a cricketer who inspired the entire next generation of cricketers and continues to do so.
He spoke to Star Sports on a show and revealed who the best five all-rounders were according to him. He revealed that he actually grew up watching them play and later got an opportunity to play with and against them.
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Tendulkar said, “I grew up watching the top five all-rounders of the world. I played with one of them which is Kapil Dev. Second would be when I had gone on to my first tour to Pakistan and played against Imran Khan.”
A 16-year-old Tendulkar played with Kapil Dev in his debut Test series against Pakistan led by Imran Khan and got to watch two of his top all-rounders live pretty early in his international career. He later played against the remaining three that he named in his top five all-rounders list.
Further, he said, “The third was playing against Sir Richard Hadlee on my second tour to New Zealand. Then in Australia I played against Malcom Marshall and Ian Botham.”
“So, these are my top five all-rounders whom I grew up watching play and later, had the opportunity to play against them,” he concluded.