Ganguly lauds Tendulkar for crossing 17,000-run mark

New Delhi, Nov 6 : Former captain Sourav Ganguly hailed Sachin Tendulkar for reaching yet another milestone as went past 17,000 runs in ODIs and wished the master blaster scores another 2,000 runs by 2011 World Cup.

''It's really a remarkable achievement. He is one of the best cricketers of the world cricket. I have had some good memories with him, having partnered him for years in one-day cricket,'' said Ganguly.

Tendulkar reached the milestone during his magnificent 175-run innings off 141 balls in India's chase of 351 runs set by the Australians in the fifth ODI yesterday.

However, the batting maestro's effort went in vain as the tourists pulled off a narrow three-run win to lead the series 3-2 in the ongoing seven-match series.

Tendulkar is already the leading run-scorer in both Tests (12,777) and ODIs. In 435 ODIs, the Mumbaikar has scored 45 centuries while he has added 42 hundreds to his name in his 159-Test career.

Ganguly also wished that the little master scores 2000 runs more by the 2011 World Cup, to be co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

''I wish he scores another 2000 runs by 2011 World Cup.

''Sachin knows best how to accumulate runs. Once he gets going he becomes unstoppable,'' the southpaw said.

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar rated Tendulkar's innings against Australia last night as one of the best that he has ever played.

'It was definitlkey one of Sachin's top efforts. Chasing 350 and he also had to try and get past the 17,000-run mark.

''One could feel the pressure, everyone was tense. The moment he got past it (17,000 runs) was when we saw the Tendulkar of old. He was free of the shackles he had imposed on himself.

''It was a serious privilege to watch him bat from such close proximity,'' he added.

Meanwhile, Mumbai batsman Wasim Jaffer hoped that Tendulkar would also achieve the 20,000-run mark.

''He has achieved several records. I hope that he reached 20,000-run mark. Whatever he has achieved, it is nearly impossible to achieve for anyone else. I just wish that he keeps on going and gets more and more runs for India,'' Jaffer said.

India disacard Rohit Sharma congratulated the batting maestro for his achievement and said everyone was proud of him.

''It's a great achievement. Anyone playing for 21 years is not an easy job, we are proud of him,'' said Sharma.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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