Sir — Though some people insist that nothing should be read into the timing of Sachin Tendulkar’s decision to retire after playing his 200th Test, there’s definitely the talk that the most prolific batsman ever may have been upset with the suggestion in some quarters that the BCCI would have asked him to pack his bags after his 200th Test. Remember, five weeks after declaring that he was in “no rush” to retire from Test cricket (all forms actually), Tendulkar made his announcement to quit.
True, nobody could have compelled Tendulkar to take the decision. But then, at 40, he isn’t getting younger and it wasn’t long ago that he underwent surgery on his left hand. all said and done, the master batsman is to be hailed for being a unifier of an extraordinary kind and for lifting Indian cricket to an incredible level.