Kolkata, Dec 22 (IANS) Having partnered each other for years on the 22-yard strip to give flying starts to the Indian batting, cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly Tuesday expressed their mutual admiration and respect at a function here Tuesday.
While Ganguly said playing with Tendulkar was a huge pleasure, the Mumbaikar returned the compliment by describing as ‘tremendous’ the contribution of the ‘prince of Kolkata’ to the Indian team and the game.

“You are a champion and you shall always be one,” Ganguly said.

“It was wonderful to have him in the team. I enjoyed playing cricket with Sourav. I saw him grow as a cricketer and person,” replied Tendulkar, who was accorded a grand felicitation at a glittering function in a city five-star hotel for completing 20 years in top-flight cricket.

Both recalled their first meeting at an under-15 national camp at Indore. “Sachin was then 13. Since then I had a long journey with him,” said Ganguly.

“We spent months in the dormitories there. We played lots of pranks and had a wonderful time,” Tendulkar added.

Speaking about his opening stands with the master blaster, Ganguly said: “These were the moments of my career I always cherish. My batting with him in one-day internationals at the top was a huge learning experience”.

“We had terrific partnerships. There were tough moments too in the middle, when we discussed how and what to do to get out of the tight situations,” said Tendulkar.

Ganguly said Tendulkar became adorable to the fans for the way he played his cricket, batted, behaved, and carried himself for the last 20 years.

“I don’t know where there are some young Bengal cricketers here. It is very difficult to emulate what this man has achieved, and the talent that he possesses. We need to follow him the way he has carried himself for the last 20 years,” Ganguly said.

“He has his feet on the ground. Playing cricket is the first and last thing for him. After playing at the top level for 13-14 years, you realise how tough it is. And then you realise how long is 20 years,” said Ganguly, rated as the most successful Indian captain.

In contrast, Tendulkar’s captaincy record may not be that great, but to Ganguly he is the best captain he played under. “For me, he is the best captain. I returned to the Indian team after four long years in 1996 (when Mohammed Azharuddin was the skipper). My career blossomed under Sachin. To get a captain who supported your ability…(he) was a captain I needed at that time.”

The left-hander said: “Age has never been a barrier in India. Sachin has got a world cup to play in 2011. It’s a lesson for younger players to see him in action”.