Category: Sports

Sri Lanka Legends vs West Indies Legends, Live Score, Road Safety World Series 2021

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Sri Lanka Legends vs West Indies Legends, Live Score, Road Safety World Series 2021

Sri Lanka Legends vs West Indies Legends Live Score, Road Safety World Series 2021 latest updates and live cricket score

Preview:

Raipur, 5th March, 2021: West Indies vs Sri Lanka matches in the 90s and early 2000s were a battle to watch out for. It won’t be anything different in the Road Safety World Series T20 where the Legends of two teams will be at loggerheads in the second match of the legends tournament at Shaheed Veer Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur.

This game, however, will have more than one reason to watch and the most important would be to see the two greatest and dashing left-handed batsmen in international cricket returning to cricket and crossing swords.

West Indian great Brian Lara will once again try to compete and prove that he is more attractive and effective than his entertaining competitor Sanath Jayasuriya, the legend from Emerald Isle. Jayasuriya, on the other hand, would be keen to put up a show that would lit the stadium with his boundaries and sixes like he did in the past.

For cricket connoisseurs, this competition will bring back a lot of memories of the past. And more than that, it would be a test of some of the legends if they would be able to carry their Test and 50-over class in act in the shortest and most glamorous format of the game i.e. Twenty20.

Going by T20 batting record, Jayasuriya has more experience and is quite an aggressor with 629 runs in 31 T20 internationals including four half centuries while Lara hasn’t played a single T20 international.

The overall record says, Jayasuriya, who has scored 13430 ODI runs, has scored 2317 runs in 111 with one century while Lara has scored 99 runs in three T20s with one half century and 65 being his highest.

Clearly, Jayasuriya has got the upperhand in T20s compared to Lara, but every game is fresh and the West Indian would be keen to outshine his Sri Lanka counterpart.

Coming to the side, Sri Lanka has a formidable line-up with limited-over legend Tillakratne Dilshan leading the men from the Island supported by some big names like Upul Tharanga, Russel Arnold, Chamra Silva, Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Herath and some more, apart from the legend Jayasuriya.

West Indies, on the other side, do have some big names but what they lack is some great T20 experience. All eyes will be on the T20 specialist and hard-hitting batsman Dwayne Smith, who have played for teams like Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings in IPL, to be the one to take the lead apart from captain Lara.

Where to watch

Watch Unacademy Road Safety World Series starting 5th  March at 7.00 pm LIVE on COLORS Cineplex, Colors Kannada Cinema, Rishtey Cineplex.

It will also be streamed live on VOOT and Jio!

Teams

Sri Lanka Legends: Tillakratne Dilshan (C), Chamara Silva, Dulanjana Wijesinghe, Malinda Warnapura, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Ajantha Mendis, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Herath, Thilan Thushara, Chinthaka Jayasinghe, Farveez Maharoof, Russel Arnold, Chamara Kapugedera





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Ravi Shastri Lauds Curator for Providing ‘Fantastic Entertainment’

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India vs England: Ravi Shastri Lauds Curator for Providing 'Fantastic Entertainment'

There is no reason to cry over the nature of the Motera track, India Head coach Ravi Shastri asserted on Saturday, saying the curator prepared pitches that produced “fantastic entertainment” in the last two matches here. The pitch for the third Test came in for sharp criticism from a few former England players after the visitors were bowled out for 112 and 81 in the day/night match.

India vs England: Rishabh Pant’s Measured Yet Thrilling Knock Was New Age Batting at Its Best

While England struggled on the spin-friendly track, India claimed victories in the third and fourth Test here to qualify for the World Test Championship final against New Zealand in June. “Why should I hold back? I attribute it to the groundsman,” Shastri said after India dismissed England for 135 to register an innings and 25 run win in the final Test here.

“I think Ashish Bhowmick is an outstanding groundsman, he knows his job. He has learnt it the hard way. He worked with Daljit Singh, who was a master curator. “Who will complain against a track like this? It is fantastic entertainment, for both teams and the game and the result 3-1 doesn’t really suggest how close the series was.”

India vs England 2021: Sundar – The Batting All-Rounder Produces Another Match-Defining Performance

Shastri lauded the team for making it to the WTC final despite the ICC changing the qualification criteria last year. “For us to be on the top of the table in World Test championship is two-and-a-half years of work and for those years to be successful, it’s been six years prior to that,” he said.

“The boys took one series at a time, they were not really bothered about the World Test Championship because the goal post gets shifted every time. “We were heading the table and some rule change came of percentage system when we were not even playing but never mind all that, we have got 520 points, we deserve to be on top of the table and playing that final.”

With several bilateral series hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, the ICC had made percentage of points earned as the criteria to determine the World Test Championship’s standings. Shastri blamed fatigue for the team’s loss in the first Test in Chennai. “It could have been different if we had a few more days off but no excuse. Boys were like zombies, they were tired and there was no crowd to cheer them on. Because everything was flat and so was the performance,” he said.

“But then a kick on the back side to reignite the pride in the system can make a lot of difference and that showed in the last three Tests.” The 58-year-old said it is very satisfying to see the youngsters perform. “… when you see youngsters coming through the ranks and performing in such situation which are really tough. Not one individual calling the shots. We’ve given opportunities for youngsters and they have grabbed those and delivered,” he said.

“They have been in a corner but they have fought from there. This side refuses to give up. We were irrepressible in Australia and we are the same here too. “What Pant and Sundar pulled off yesterday was unreal because the pressure was on us and we were trailing by 50 and from there to get 360 was an outstanding achievement.”

The Indian players have been in the bio-bubble since the pre-IPL days in August last year and Shastri said they are desperate to get out of it soon.”Six months in the bubble, seeing the same faces day in day out, it is time for the bubble to burst (smiles). I know it’s still three weeks to go but the bubble will burst,” he said.





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There’s Nothing Better Than Performing When Team Needs You Most, Says Rishabh Pant

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India vs England: There's Nothing Better Than Performing When Team Needs You Most, Says Rishabh Pant

He has got everyone excited but Rishabh Pant was nonchalance personified as he picked up the man of the match honours for his brilliant hundred in the fourth and final Test against England here on Saturday. Pant’s 101 off 118 balls, during which he smoothly shifted gears to unsettle the English bowlers, had everyone, from his own skipper Virat Kohli to rival captain Joe Root, praising him to sky.

India vs England: Rishabh Pant’s Measured Yet Thrilling Knock Was New Age Batting at Its Best

The 23-year-old man of the moment, however, had very little to say after picking up the award with his trademark cheeky grin firmly in place.”I think the drills have helped, and my confidence has helped, transferring it from my batting to my keeping,” he responded to an elaborate query on what has worked for him and the secret of his apparent joy while playing the game.Nonetheless, he did acknowledge that the knock meant a lot to him as it helped the team come out of a seemingly precarious position.

India vs England 2021: Sundar – The Batting All-Rounder Produces Another Match-Defining Performance

That perhaps was an understatement, for his hundred changed the face of the game completely and effectively shut the door on England.”This was a very important innings, especially with the team under pressure. We were in a tough situation at 146-6, and there’s nothing better than performing when the team needs you the most,” he said.And what about that outrageous reverse flick off James Anderson that was adjudged the moment of the match and about which, the Englishmen haven’t stopped talking about after getting over their fixation with India’s dust bowl pitches?

“If I get the chance to reverse-flick a fast bowler again, I definitely would,” he said.And lastly, he seems to be an entertainer not just with the bat but also behind the stumps with his often hilarious chirpiness. Harsha Bhogle quipped that his chatter was making seasoned commentators like him seem dull to the viewers.”It’s a compliment for me but I am sorry it has become a problem for you,” he couldn’t hide his grin while responding to that.”I have grown up believing that I will play the game to be happy and make everyone happy,” he said summing up his philosophy as a player.





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India’s Road to the World Test Championship Final

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India vs England: India's Road to the World Test Championship Final

India beat England by a massive innings and 25 runs in the fourth and final Test in Ahmedabad to secure a 3-1 win in the series and with it book a place alongside New Zealand in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) at Lord’s in June this year. While the match was set-up by a brilliant century stand by Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar, the spin wizards R Ashwin and Axar Patel returned with a fifer each to rout England for 135 – their sixth below-200 score in eight innings in the series – to hand India a big series win.

India vs England: Virat Kohli’s Team Wins By Inns & 25 Runs; Clinches Series 3-1; To Face NZ In WTC Final

It has been a long and challenging journey for India and despite all the hurdles and problems with respect to Covid-19 and bio-bubbles, restructuring of the points system and injuries on an arduous tour Down Under, the team has come out on top and finished as the number one ranked team in the ICC WTC Points Table.

India have ended with 520 points and 72.2% PCT (Percentage of Points) from 6 series and 17 matches just ahead of New Zealand who ended with 420 points and 70% PCT in 5 series and 11 matches. India won 5 of these 6 series and 12 of the 17 matches.

Their journey started with a 2-0 sweep against the West Indies in the Caribbean in 2019. Ajinkya Rahane (81 and 102) produced two top knocks under pressure to seal a massive 318-run win at North Sound while Hanuma Vihari, with 111, was their star in the 257-run victory at Kingston.

India then hammered South Africa 3-0 at home with three huge wins – two by an innings and the third by 203 runs. The series gave rise to a new avatar of Rohit Sharma – as opener in Test cricket for India. He scored a hundred in each innings at Visakhapatnam in his first Test as opener for India and followed that with a double hundred at Ranchi.

India vs England: ‘Man-of-the-Series’ Ravichandran Ashwin Wins the Numbers’ Game

India continued their home domination with a 2-0 sweep against Bangladesh at home late in 2019. They thrashed the visitors by an innings in both the Tests which included the Day and Night Pink Ball encounter at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata – India’s first Test match under lights. Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav with 12 wickets each were the standout performers for India with the ball in the series.

The 2-0 loss in New Zealand early in 2020 was India’s only blemish in a near perfect campaign in the inaugural edition of the WTC. However, they came back strongly with a stunning 2-1 win in the four-Test Border Gavaskar Trophy in December 2020 – which was their first Test series after nearly a ten-month break due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Against all odds, without their captain and with injuries to several top players including their pace quartet, controversies on and off the field and tough bio-bubble protocols, India went on to record one of the greatest victories in their Test cricket history against a full strength Australian unit in their own backyard. After being routed for 36 – their lowest score in a Test innings in the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide, they came back to level the series at the MCG led by an inspirational hundred from stand-in-captain, Ajinkya Rahane.

India kept discovering new heroes throughout the series while some old ones showcased their class time and again. Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant, Hanuma Vihari and R Ashwin defied the Australian attack and produced the save of the century helping India draw the third Test at the SCG. Washington Sundar, on debut and Shardul Thakur then changed the match on its head with their partnership in the decider in Brisbane before Shubman Gill, Pant and Pujara gunned down 328 in the fourth innings in one of the greatest chases in Test history!

A change in the points system had made India’s task of making it to the WTC final stiffer and more challenging. To make matters worse, they lost the series opener against England in Chennai. But this Indian team, under the inspiring leadership of Virat Kohli and watchful eyes of Ravi Shastri had not learnt the meaning of the words ‘Give Up’!

Rohit Sharma produced one of the finest hundreds registered by an Indian batsman at home and was the difference between the two teams in the second Test at the same venue. Ashwin returned with 8 wickets in the match while Axar Patel, on debut, bagged 7. Patel was India’s hero at his home state and returned with 11 wickets in the match as England were bowled out for 112 and 81 in the two innings in the Day and Night Test in Ahmedabad – the first time they had been dismissed for an aggregate of less than 200 in India.

India still needed to secure a draw in the final Test at Motera and were in trouble in the first innings having lost six wickets with not even 150 on the board. India’s new generation – Pant and Sundar combined and registered a match-changing 113-run stand for the seventh wicket. Ashwin and Patel then bagged a fifer each to hand India another innings victory and more significantly with it a win in the series and a place at Lord’s in June – a place they thoroughly deserved!





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‘You Have Inspired the Nation and Uplifted the Mood in These Times’

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'You Have Inspired the Nation and Uplifted the Mood in These Times' - Wishes Pour In As India Rout England to Make WTC Final

India on Saturday finished on top of the league phase of the ICC World Test Championship standings after crushing England by an innings and 25 runs in the fourth and final Test here to pocket the series 3-1.

Rohit Sharma’s Knock in Chennai Was The Defining Moment, Says Virat Kohli

Resuming the day at 294 for seven in reply to England’s first innings total of 205, the hosts put on board 365 for a big 160-run lead. Washington Sundar stayed unbeaten on 96 while Axar Patel scored 43. For England, the script did not change much as their batsmen yet again found it tough to negotiate the challenge posed by the Indian spinners.

Kohli & Co to Take on New Zealand in WTC Final on June 18

Dan Lawrence (50) though showed the required temperament to counter the spinners. Once their 44-run stand was broken, India did not take long to wrap up the match and the series. Left-arm spinner Patel (5/48) and Ravichandran Ashwin (5/47) shared all the England wickets between them. The two teams will now play a five-match T20 series, starting March 12 at the same venue.

Virat Kohli’s Team Wins By Inns & 25 Runs; Clinches Series 3-1; To Face NZ In WTC Final

And the win, Twitter erupted, and a sea of congratulatory wishes started to pour in on social media:

‘You Have Inspired the Nation and Uplifted the Mood in These Times’ – Wishes Pour In As India Rout England to Make WTC Final





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Rohit Sharma’s Knock in Chennai Was The Defining Moment, Says Virat Kohli

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India vs England: Rohit Sharma's Knock in Chennai Was The Defining Moment, Says Virat Kohli

After being 0-1 down, Virat Kohli and co played some brilliant cricket to win the four-match Test series 3-1. Now, after sealing a place in the WTC Final on June 18 in Lord’s, the skipper has said that he is mighty pleased with the comeback.

“The comeback in Chennai pleased me the most. The first game was an aberration and England outplayed us. The toss played a crucial role and the bowlers weren’t in the context. We bowled and fielded with more intensity and so the comeback was very heartening.”

India vs England: Rishabh Pant’s Measured Yet Thrilling Knock Was New Age Batting at Its Best

He added that India’s bench strength is ‘extremely strong’ and this is a ‘good sign’ for Indian cricket.  “Our bench strength is extremely strong and that’s a good sign for Indian cricket. When the transition happens, the standards won’t fall and Rishabh and Washy’s partnership showed exactly that in a crucial juncture of the match. We had to pick up our body language after the first game in Chennai. Every team in international cricket is a quality side and we need to work hard to beat them, even at home,” he said.

India vs England 2021: Sundar – The Batting All-Rounder Produces Another Match-Defining Performance

“Keeping that intensity going is most important and is the hallmark of our team. Rohit’s knock was the defining moment in Chennai, and Ashwin has been our most bankable player over the years so they have beenour best players this series. Now we can accept that the WTC final, which was a distraction in New Zealand in 2020, but now it’s a reality,” he added.





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India vs England 2021: Sundar

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India vs England 2021: Sundar - The Batting All-Rounder Produces Another Match-Defining Performance

He did it again! He is all but 21 years of age and he has already produced three significant performances in his four-Test career, all under pressure when most before him had failed and when his team needed him the most. Washington Sundar has been a revelation for India since his match-changing knock in the decider at The Gabba in January this year. The all-rounder produced another classic under pressure remaining unbeaten on a magnificent 96 helping India to a potentially match-winning 160-run lead in the fourth and final Test against England in Ahmedabad.

India vs England: Washington Sundar Narrowly Misses Out on Maiden Ton as India’s Lower-order Collapses

Sundar was the senior partner after Pant exited late on Day 2 post his splendid hundred. The duo had put India in a dominating position with a 113-run stand of 158 deliveries. While Pant scored 71 off just 66 deliveries, interestingly, it was Sundar who had farmed the strike defying the England bowlers for 92 deliveries for his 40. Basically, he had, in a way taken the majority of the bowling, allowing the partnership to blossom while also making sure that Pant was not exposed too much playing his higher risk game.

BCCI Marks 50-Years of Sunil Gavaskar’s Test Debut With Grand Felicitation at Motera

From 40 off 92 deliveries till Pant was dismissed, Sundar went on to score an unbeaten 96 off 174 deliveries which included 10 fours and a six. This meant that he had accelerated and scored his last 56 runs off 82 deliveries. Sundar had carved together another hundred stand in the innings – 106 off 179 deliveries with Axar Patel. He scored 56 off 82 deliveries in the partnership. This showed his maturity in understanding the situation of the game and his role at different stages of India’s innings. With Pant he had to preserve his wicket and get India out of the hole while with Axar Patel at the other end Sundar had to take more chances and do the bulk of the scoring himself – he excelled in both the avatars taking India to a position of strength by the time their innings came to an end.

During the course of the innings he showed his entire repertoire in shot-making – from creaming Bess back over his head for a six to crunchy cover drives off the bowling of Anderson – Sundar was at his elegant best and as good as any top-order batsman. Batting at number 8, in an encounter which held enormous significance, under pressure with all the top and middle order in the pavilion he was involved in two back to back hundred partnerships which changed the match on its head and put India in the driver’s seat to dictate the course of play.

Sundar had produced a match-defining 62 in a match-changing stand with Shardul Thakur again when the top and middle order had failed in the series decider in Brisbane on Test debut against one of the best bowling attacks in the world in their own backyard – that requires skill, courage, temperament and buckets full of guts! He produced a masterclass unbeaten 85 in the first innings of the series opener in Chennai.

First time can be a fluke, second time just chance but when one repeats a feat for a third time in the first four Test matches of your career, it is a combination of serious talent, ability and temperament coming together at the very highest level. Coming at the back of two successive ducks makes this performance at Motera even more special.

The best in the business take time to make their mark at the international level but here is Sundar, barely past his teens, who with three monumental performances with the bat in his first six innings has shown the world that he belongs to the big stage as if he was almost waiting for his chance against the big boys.

It is high time the cricketing world starts viewing India’s number 8 as a batting all-rounder for that is what he is and respects him for what he has done for the country instead of finding faults with his other discipline.





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Rohit Sharma Says Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar ‘Most Important Assets’

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India vs England: Rohit Sharma Says Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar 'Most Important Assets'

The new Team India is seeing a lot of rising stars after the Border-Gavaskar Test series against Australia and in the ongoing Test against England. India, currently on the second position on the ICC international Test teams point-table, is almost in the ICC international Test Championship. With impressive performances all around, Rohit Sharma pointed out two particular players as the “most important assets” in the team. He praised Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar for their stellar performance during Day 2 of the 4th Test.

BCCI shared a video on Friday where the two younger players were engaged in a conversation with experience opening batsman Sharma.

The batsmanopens the video by exclaiming how the day has been “fantastic” for Team India. The video is titled “Hitman Interviews.”

When he goes on to talk to Pant, Sharma smiles brightly to camera, evidently proud of the player, and says the “hundred was brilliant.” Pant had scored 101,his third Test century in international cricket.

Sharma says he knows how the condition was not so ideal when Pant took the bat, and was curious what went inside the young cricketer’s head as he came to the field. Sharma was surprised at Pant’s response in which he claimed he took his time, assessed the pitch, and the plan was to build a partnership with him. The senior could only score 49 but that helped Pant form a solid ground.

The pitch in Ahmedabad has been blamed a lot by international players all around for being unfavourable. Sharma acknowledged the fact and said a pitch like that is not easy to play but Pant took risks and managed to pull it off. Sharma said Pant’s style is encouraging for the whole team.

Talking to Sundar, Sharma exclaimed how his excellent bowling is important for the team. At the end of the second day, Team India was at 294/7 with Sundar and Axar Patel (11) at the crease. India has a lead of 89 runs at the present.

After receiving praise from Sharma, Sundar exclaimed, “Amazing (feeling) honestly. I should thank the management and senior players for keeping faith in me. I just wanted to play my natural game.”





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BCCI Marks 50-Years of Sunil Gavaskar’s Test Debut With Grand Felicitation at Motera

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BCCI Marks 50-Years of Sunil Gavaskar's Test Debut With Grand Felicitation at Motera

One of the most legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar was felicitated by BCCI during the fourth Test match between India and England. The legend is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his Test debut and BCCI secretary Jay Shah tweeted the pictures in a mark of tribute to the 71-year-old.

Earlier Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar on Saturday paid a heartfelt tribute to his idol, Sunil Gavaskar, who made his Test debut against West Indies on this day in 1971. Sharing a photograph of Gavaskar in which the legend is seen playing a straight drive, Tendulkar said fifty years ago, “he took the world by storm”, scoring 774 runs in his debut series.

Rishabh Pant Answers Cheteshwar Pujara’s Call, Shows He Can Put ‘Team First’

It was due to Gavaskar’s heroics that India first won the series in West Indies and then in England, lending the sport a “new meaning”, Tendulkar said.”As a young boy, I knew I had someone to look up to and be like him,” Tendulkar, one of the best players to have played the game, said, adding, Gavaskar remains his hero to this day.Besides wishing Gavaskar, who completes fifty years since his debut for India, Tendulkar extended his wishes to other team members who made the country proud following their victory over the mighty West Indies.

On Saturday, speaking to Star Sports, Gavaskar said he can’t believe it’s been five decades since he played his first game for India.“Every school kid’s dream is to play for India. That was my dream as well,” Sunil Gavaskar told Star Sports.The “little master” said he was handed the blazer and sweaters before the start of the tour but he didn’t wear them until he stepped on the field representing the country.





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BCCI Marks 50-Years of Sunil Gavaskar’s Test Debut With Grand Felicitation at Motera

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BCCI Marks 50-Years of Sunil Gavaskar's Test Debut With Grand Felicitation at Motera

One of the most legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar was felicitated by BCCI during the fourth Test match between India and England. The legend is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his Test debut and BCCI secretary Jay Shah tweeted the pictures in a mark of tribute to the 71-year-old.

Earlier Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar on Saturday paid a heartfelt tribute to his idol, Sunil Gavaskar, who made his Test debut against West Indies on this day in 1971. Sharing a photograph of Gavaskar in which the legend is seen playing a straight drive, Tendulkar said fifty years ago, “he took the world by storm”, scoring 774 runs in his debut series.

Rishabh Pant Answers Cheteshwar Pujara’s Call, Shows He Can Put ‘Team First’

It was due to Gavaskar’s heroics that India first won the series in West Indies and then in England, lending the sport a “new meaning”, Tendulkar said.”As a young boy, I knew I had someone to look up to and be like him,” Tendulkar, one of the best players to have played the game, said, adding, Gavaskar remains his hero to this day.Besides wishing Gavaskar, who completes fifty years since his debut for India, Tendulkar extended his wishes to other team members who made the country proud following their victory over the mighty West Indies.

On Saturday, speaking to Star Sports, Gavaskar said he can’t believe it’s been five decades since he played his first game for India.“Every school kid’s dream is to play for India. That was my dream as well,” Sunil Gavaskar told Star Sports.The “little master” said he was handed the blazer and sweaters before the start of the tour but he didn’t wear them until he stepped on the field representing the country.





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