Former Indian cricketer and member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Kirti Azad on Thursday said that it would be difficult to imagine an Indian team without the Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar.
"It is difficult to imagine Indian cricket team without Sachin Tendulkar. The way he played for these 24 years and every game he came out to play, the kind of enthusiasm that he showed, it was like a little boy who is into cricket field and really hungry for runs. I think it's basically a very sad day in a way you will have cricket teams in the future without Sachin Tendulkar," he said.
Vice President of the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) in India, Rajeev Shukla referred to him as Don Bradman of modern cricket.
"This void can't be filled because he has created a vacuum which can't be filled. He is one player who has created all sorts of records and I don't see any player, in coming several decades, would be cable of breaking these records. He is such kind of player. I my view the Don Bradman of modern cricket has sought the retirement," he said.
Australian High Commissioner Patrick Suckling said it is a great loss for cricket, not just the Indian cricket, but cricket in general.
"Sachin Tendulkar is truly a great cricketer, and he can end his career with great satisfaction. Don Bradman, Australian greatest cricketer, said he has never seen anyone play like Sachin Tendulkar. It is a great loss for cricket, not just Indian cricket, but cricket in general. He is loved all around the world. Hats-off to Sachin Tendulkar for playing so well," he said.
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Meanwhile, Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan hoped that Sachin would remain associated with cricket.
"He has created history. People will remember him. I hope that he remains associated with cricket because people will learn a lot from him," he said.
Earlier in the day, Sachin Tendulkar announced that he would be retiring from international cricket after playing his 200th Test against the West Indies.
In a statement that was released by BCCI President N.Srinivasan, Tendulkar said: "All my life, I have had a dream of playing cricket for India. I have been living this dream every day for the last 24 years."
"It is hard for me to imagine a life without playing cricket because its all I have ever done since I was eleven years old. It's been a huge honour to have represented my country and played all over the world. I look forward to playing my 200th Test Match on home soil, as I call it a day," Tendulkar said further.