Indian skipper MS Dhoni admits he won’t exactly know what to do with himself when Sachin Tendulkar walks away from international cricket next month.
Tendulkar has not just been a constant during Dhoni’s elevation to the top of Indian cricket – he’s been a constant during the wicketkeeper-batsman’s entire history with the sport.
Dhoni was just eight years old when Tendulkar made his Test debut in 1989, and admits life won’t be the same without the Little Master to call upon.
Tendulkar will draw the curtain on his astonishing career when he chalks up his 200th Test match in a two-match home series against the West Indies next month.
“Of course it will be an end of an era,” Dhoni said on Saturday, ahead of the series-opening one-day clash in Pune on Sunday.
While admitting that he never wanted to see Tendulkar pull the pin, he is glad at least that the 40-year-old has been able to have the final say – rather than be axed from the team by selectors.
“I am very happy he had such a fantastic career and also for the fact that he retired on his own terms,” Dhoni said.
“At the same time at some corner of your heart there is a feeling that you won’t see him playing for the international team or any form of cricket.
“That’s the only thing I am disappointed about.”
Above all, Dhoni praised Tendulkar for maintaining his stellar standards for such lengthy periods – all while under the gaze of cricket-obsessed India.
“When you are top batsman for your side for a considerable period of time, everyone scrutinises your performance, when you score or not score runs,” Dhoni said.
“I think there was plenty he had to deal with apart from cricket, cricket of course was his passion.”
Meanwhile the man of the match from Thursday’s Twenty20 win over Australia, Yuvraj Singh, sat out an optional training session on Saturday but Dhoni insists he is fit to play.