Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman heaped rich praise on batting great Sachin Tendulkar saying that cricketers from across the globe took inspiration from the little master.
Sachin Tendulkar is regarded as one of the all-time greatest batsmen and is the only player to have scored hundred international tons. He also holds the world record for most runs in both ODIs and Tests, and the only player to complete more than 30,000 runs in international cricket.
In Test cricket, Sachin Tendulkar notched up 15,921 runs at a phenomenal average of 53.78 to go with 51 centuries in 200 matches, while in ODI cricket the former Indian skipper has scored 18,426 runs to go with 49 hundreds in 463 matches.
Sachin Tendulkar voted as 'Greatest Men's Test Batsman' of 21st century by commentators and fans
The Indian legend was recently was named the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) batsman in Tests of the 21st century leaving behind the likes of Jacques Kallis, Steve Smith, and Ricky Ponting by a 50-member jury put together by Star Sports.
Speaking on Star Sports' show Cricket Live, VVS Laxman lavished rich praise on Sachin Tendulkar saying that only a player like him could have played under different captains after quitting captaincy in 2000.
"I've played alongside him for so long. Sachin played under different captains. I think in 2000 he decided that he is not going to captain anymore. And such a senior player, such a legend of the game.
“But to adjust and contribute to the progress of Indian cricket under different captains, and to help them flourish as captains, is something only a role model and inspiration like Sachin can do -- which he did really good," VVS Laxman said on Star Sports show Cricket Live.
Laxman remarked that the legacy Sachin Tendulkar left behind was not all about scoring hundreds, double hundreds but it was about the way he inspired the young generation of crickets.
He recalled how Kane Williamson during his debut Test match chatted with Sachin Tendulkar and tried to understand the game. He also said that cricketers from all across the globe got inspiration.
"The legacy that he left-back is not only scoring hundreds, double hundreds, 100 hundreds, but also the way he inspired the younger generation of Indian cricketers and the world cricketers. I still remember Kane Williamson in his debut Test match in Ahmedabad; chatting with Sachin, understanding the game.
"As recently as the IPL, which just finished, we had a long chat with Sachin; talking about his tennis elbow injury. So, not only the Indian cricketers got inspiration from Sachin, but all the cricketers from all over the world got inspiration from him and that's why he is the greatest," he said.
(Star Sports inputs)
