The calls for retirement might have grown louder after Sachin Tendulkar was bowled three times on the trot in the recent Test series against New Zealand, but former India skipper Sourav Ganguly is convinced the senior batsman would respond in a befitting manner.
"It's not the first time he has been bowled. It has happened when he was at his peak. He had then found a way and he is going to do it again. I am sure people's talk (about his retirement) must have hurt him and he will respond to it," Ganguly said here today, after delivering the fourth Dilip Sardesai memorial lecture at the Bombay Gymkhana.
Ganguly was sure that Tendulkar would call it a day when he's on a high like all great players do.
"Having played with him for so long, you got to believe he's not over. When he goes he will go on a high like it should be for every player and more so for the great man," said the Bengal stalwart while answering a query before a packed gathering, which included former Test players Ajit Wadekar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Sanjay Manjrekar and Bapu Nadkarni.
Tendulkar had been bowled in the three innings he played in the two-Test series against the visiting Kiwis in Hyderabad and Bangalore, triggering a debate whether the champion batsman should retire.
Ganguly noted Tendulkar's advancing age and said the batsman should now concentrate on Test cricket more while utilising the limited overs cricket to get into the groove for the longer version whenever possible.
"He has in the past used One-day cricket to stay in focus for Tests. But it's upto him as he knows his game better than others. He's getting on in years, he's 39-40. He can't play all forms of cricket. I feel he should concentrate more on Test cricket," Ganguly said.
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