BRIAN LARA: NO COMPARISON BETWEEN ME AND SACHIN. SACHIN IS THE BEST
Brian Lara and Sunil Gavaskar present at India Today Salaam Sachin Conclave
BRIAN LARA “THE TIME I SAW SACHIN BAT I THOUGHT HE IS GOING TO BE THE MASTER’.
BRIAN LARA: NO COMPARISON BETWEEN ME AND SACHIN. SACHIN IS THE BEST
SUNIL GAVASKAR: IN THE SAME LEAGUE AS SOBERS AND BRADMAN
LAVA Salaam Sachin India Today Conclave’s session- The 15-year old prodigy to Today- Sachin Through Sunny’s Eyes- moderated by TV Today Sports Editor Vikrant Gupta, former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar lauded Sachin’s dedication to the game
Gavaskar said “Sachin was born to play cricket and has taken the game to a new level. I heard of him when I was in Mumbai airport in 1987. my brother mentioned the name of Sachin Tendulkar. I saw him play in his debut for Rest of India and Ranji Trophy.
Praising for maintaining a level-headedness both on and off the field Gavaskar said his retirement was on expected lines “I wasn’t suprised by Sachin’s retirement, it was expected. He would have even be successful in 1920’s on uncovered pitches”. More delightful details came out of Sunny’s bag of anecdotes on Sachin “I told Sachin that when he crossed 34th 100th, we will have 35 bottles of champange”. “We have played against each other in single wicket match, I got Sachin out but he didn’t get me out”.
The next session, SACHIN VS LARA, moderated by Boria Majumdar, Consulting Editor, India Today Group, Lara heaped praise on Sachin Tendulkar. Paying the greatest compliment ever Lara said, “If I had a son and he wanted to see how to bat on youtube I would have shown him the video of Sachin’s batting”. It may have been an intense rivalry, Brian Lara vs Sachin Tendulkar debate grabbed headlines and realms of newsprint but there was always mutual respect for each other’s craft.
Lara added “Sachin with his skill and fitness level to spend level to spend 24 yrs for your country I really want to sit with him and want to ask how he has done that?”
Coming to the 200th Test against West Indies Lara had an interesting reply “Sachin should make 100 and West Indies should win”. Lara praised Sachin’s discipline and his away record in interrnational cricket.
“He has been disciplined and the way he played is what everybody has been proud of. “ Sachin’s record away and in home has been very tough to achieve”.
