Usain Bolt was a three-year-old toddler finding his feet in the laidback town of Trelawny, Jamaica, when Sachin Tendulkar made his debut as a 16-year-old in 1989.
Twenty-four years later, when Sachin Tendulkar steps on the hallowed turf of Eden Gardens on Wednesday for his farewell series against the West Indies, the fastest man on earth will be glued to his television set in the middle of the night watching the little man bring down the curtains on a ?remarkable career?.
?I hope Sachin Tendulkar scores a hundred and West Indies win the series,? Usain Bolt told The Indian Express over the phone. ?What Sachin has managed is a major achievement. He?s been playing cricket for a long time and I am really happy he could reach such a feat before he retires from what is hands-down a remarkable career.?
The 27-year-old, who has won six gold medals in the last two Olympics, said he was overawed by the longevity of Sachin Tendulkar?s career, something that he describes as being ?beyond spectacular?.
?It?s beyond spectacular that Sachin Tendulkar?s been playing for so long. The constant will and determination in striving for excellence is what separates Sachin from the rest,? Usain Bolt said. ?I can only speak from my vantage point as an athlete but hard work, motivation and just raw love for the sport is what I feel pushes an athlete to greatness and longevity at the top.?
Usain Bolt?s love for cricket is no secret. During his childhood, Usain Bolt was a fast bowler dreamt of wearing the whites for the West Indies and has maintained that if he hadn?t specialised in track and field, he would have played international cricket.
And even though he has shone in the yellow vest for Jamaica and gone on to become an Olympic legend, his love for cricket remains undiminished.
Usain Bolt said he grew up watching Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar and that they had left a lasting impact on him. ?Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar were the class batsmen growing up and in my book both will go down in history as two of the greatest batsmen ever,? he said.
Without the two, he said, there will be a big void in world cricket but hoped youngsters will take inspiration from them and ensure a smooth transition.
?It is hard not to miss Brian Lara or Sachin Tendulkar when he retires because of the style and class they both played with. But I am confident that their contribution to the sports will only provide motivation to the other cricketers coming up today to want to be like them or even greater. In the West Indies, you see Chris Gayle and others stamping their class and I am sure in India, young ones will do the same,? Usain Bolt said.
Asked to choose between Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar, Usain Bolt – arguably the best sprinter of all-time – said: ?Wow, that?s a hard one. Both sit at the top as two of the greatest cricketers that ever played the game. I watched more of Brian?s innings so I am leaning towards picking Brian Lara. But I will think on it some more and get back to you.?