NEW DELHI, April 4, (Agencies): Indian batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar said Monday he had no plans to retire after his World Cup triumph, but said the team would miss outgoing coach Gary Kirsten.
India regained the World Cup after 28 years with a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the final in Mumbai on Saturday under former South African batsman Kirsten.
“Personally, I would say Gary (Kirsten) should continue but he has family commitments,” Tendulkar told the NDTV.
“I respect his decision. We will miss him a lot. It’s been a pleasure to work with him. He’s probably worked harder than anyone else.”
India not only secured the number-one ranking in Tests and number two in one-day internationals under Kirsten, but also became a formidable force both at home and away.
Tendulkar, the world’s leading run scorer in both Tests (14,692) and one-day internationals (18,111), became a World Cup winner for the first time on his sixth and probably last appearance in the tournament.
He said winning the World Cup was his biggest cricketing moment and wished he could have shared it with his father.
“I miss my father. He would be proud. My kids being there for the victory lap made it even more special,” said Tendulkar, whose father died during the 1999 World Cup, adding that he had no plans to retire.
“I can’t believe we’re the world champions. I am enjoying cricket too much to retire from any form of the game,” said Tendulkar, who will turn 38 this month.
The master batsman rated Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the “best captain” for leading the team shrewdly in the high-pressure tournament.
“He (Dhoni) reads the situation well, is open to ideas and above all he stays calm and doesn’t show frustration,” Tendulkar said.
It was the second major title India had won under Dhoni after the World Twenty20 Championships in South Africa in 2007.
Tendulkar said India had peaked at the right time.
“In the knockout stage, we peaked at the right time. We batted, fielded and bowled well. You see effort from all players. Performance no one can guarantee, but effort you can guarantee,” said Tendulkar. India beat defending champions Australia in the quarter-finals and Pakistan in the semi-final before prevailing over Sri Lanka.

In Karachi, Pakistan’s limited overs cricket captain Shahid Afridi has made himself available for the tour of West Indies after previously planning on missing the series. “I had decided to skip the tour because I wanted to take a break from the game, but some former players and my family and friends told me to change my decision at this crucial time for Pakistan cricket,” Afridi told Reuters on Monday.
Afridi, 31, who has played 320 one-day internationals, led Pakistan to the semifinals of the recent World Cup where they lost to eventual winners India.
“One of the main reasons I wanted to take a break was because I wanted to be with my father who is not keeping well. But my father insisted that I carry on with the Pakistan team,” Afridi said.
The seasoned all-rounder, who finished with 21 wickets in the tournament, said he wanted a break from cricket but the upcoming tour was an ideal opportunity to groom two or three new players.
“That is why I want to be part of the team on the coming tour and carry on the momentum we got from the World Cup,” he said.
Afridi revealed the morale of the players was boosted by the warm welcome they received on returning from the World Cup hosted in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

“It is an indication that Pakistan cricket is on the right track and on the coming tours to West Indies and Zimbabwe we can form an ideal one-day combination,” he added.
The Pakistan team will play a Twenty20 match against West Indies on April 21, then five ODIs and two tests.
Afridi said that he had suggested to the Pakistan Cricket Board to look at having a permanent batting coach with the team and that he would discuss the tour with selectors in Lahore on Tuesday.
“Our biggest fears was about the batting in the World Cup and it came true in the semifinal. I think we need a batting coach to guide the batsmen,” he said.
No Pakistani made the top 20 of the run scorers list at the tournament and the team were bowled out for 231 in the loss to rivals India, 30 runs short of victory.
Indications from the national selectors suggest they plan to rest some of the senior players for the limited over matches in the Caribbean and try out new players who have performed well in domestic cricket.