In a career spanning 25 years, Wasim Jaffer played under various coaches and mentored by many. However, before the former India Test opener announced his retirement on Saturday, the two people he consulted were Sudhir Naik and Chandrakant Pandit; the two coaches he mentioned in his retirement statement.

It was Naik who first offered Jaffer an opportunity to play on Mumbai's 'A' division circuit when he was in the city's U-16 team. "He was so effortless in his batting. I just wanted him to play for my club, National CC. He joined us after consulting his elder brother Kalim, who was a bit apprehensive of him getting a chance to play in the XI. But I assured him that Wasim will be well looked after. Once he joined, Wasim never left the club [in his prime] despite offers from posh clubs and gymkhanas. Even when he enrolled for Khar Gymkhana towards the end of his career, National CC was his second club," Naik told mid-day.