Widely regarded as one of the greatest batters of all time, Sachin Tendulkar is idolized by a generation of cricketers across the globe.

In a career spanning 24 years, Tendulkar played 200 Tests and 463 ODIs for India, scoring the world record number of runs (15921 in Tests and 18426 in ODIs) and centuries (51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs).

Almost a decade after his retirement from international cricket, the batting legend continues to inspire as his former teammates and opponents often share stories about his immense influence in the game.

While commentating in the ongoing SA20 league, Suresh Raina, who represented India in 18 Tests, 226 ODIs and 78 T20Is, shared a special anecdote from 2014, involving Tendulkar.

“I practiced with him for two weeks (before England tour in 2014). We weren't performing quite well in the Test series and when I was practicing, I had a tattoo that said, ‘Believe Yourself'. When I went to England, I smashed a century in Cardiff (in ODIs). The first person to send me a message after the century was Paaji… he sent ‘Believe yourself. You can do it for the country’. I felt so good after that message," Raina stated.

Suresh Raina had shared the Indian dressing room with Sachin Tendulkar between 2005 and 2013. Both of them were part of the team that lifted the ODI World Cup in 2011.

While Tendulkar called time on his international career in November 2013, Raina announced his India retirement in August 2020.

(Hindustan Times Inputs)