Even at 13, he was different

Four innings mean a lot to me. His century at Edgbaston in my first series in 1996. That was the first time I saw him make a hundred while I was in the team, Rahul Dravid on Sachin in an interview with Anand Vasu.

My favourite Sachin innings

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Four innings mean a lot to me. His century at Edgbaston in my first series in 1996. That was the first time I saw him make a hundred while I was in the team. The second is a 44 he got in a game at Trinidad against Ambrose, Walsh and Bishop in an ODI in 1997. It was a green pitch and the ball was seaming all over the place. The way he attacked was something else. The first-innings hundred against Australia in 2001 in Chennai. The series was set up and you just expected someone like him to step up to the plate and perform. Finally, the 241 not out in Sydney in 2004. He was struggling for runs but showed incredible discipline and tenacity.

His greatest strength

His judgment of length and line, which has a lot to do with his balance. He picks up line and length quickly. He’s rarely caught in no man’s land, and is almost always fully forward or back. That economy of movement is special

Sachin and me

The first time I saw him was at an under-15 game at Cuttack. I was not playing and was the scorer for South Zone against West. It amazed me how a 13-year old, someone my age, was batting as he did. When I got home I told friends that this guy would play for India soon and got laughed at. Even at 13 he was in a different league from everyone else

A weakness?

I don’t think that there’s any real technical weakness. That’s why he’s been able to be so successful for so long.

My message for Sachin

I just wish him and his family all the very best. And, importantly, thank him for the inspiration he has been.

(As told to Anand Vasu)