Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar opened up about his significant contribution to Indian cricket during a candid discussion on JioCinema's Match Centre during the IPL 2024 opener between CSK and RCB at the Chepauk Stadium on Friday (March 22).

Actually, the legendary Indian batter was commentating during the IPL 2024 opener on JioCinema's Match Centre, where he offered some insight into his role in shaping up the leadership for Indian cricket.

Tendulkar also revealed how his decision to decline the Indian team captaincy led to MS Dhoni’s appointment as the captain of Team India's white-ball team in 2007.

Reflecting on this historic decision, Tendulkar revealed that former BCCI president Sharad Pawar offered him the captaincy, but he suggested Dhoni’s name. Tendulkar said that he was impressed by Dhoni's instinctiveness and awareness, and that’s how the country got its most successful captain.

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Sachin Tendulkar said on JioCinema's Match Centre: “Actually, it was the President of BCCI in 2007, Mr Sharad Pawar, he asked me to lead India. I said, 'My body is in terrible shape, I don't think a captain who will every now and then go to the dressing room and have his ankle strapped or some treatment on his shoulder and all that, it's not the right thing to happen to our team’.”

The Master Blaster continued, “My observation of MS Dhoni has been very good because I've been fielding in slips, I've had multiple conversations with him. Invariably, I'd ask him, 'What would you have done right now?' And the answers were balanced. He's very intuitive, he's instinctive, and the awareness of that given moment is remarkable.”

Tendulkar also lauded Dhoni for his exceptional stability, composed demeanor, and knack for making wise decisions even in high-pressure situations.

(With IANS Inputs)