Yuvraj Singh dedicates match-winning knock to Sachin Tendulkar

He should have been on cloud nine after smashing a matchwinning unbeaten 77 against Australia in the oneoff T20 International in his comeback match but Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh said he had mixed feelings as it came on the day Sachin Tendulkar retires from Test cricket An emotional Yuvraj who guided India to a sixwicket win over Australia here dedicated his unbeaten innings to Tendulkar who yesterday announced that he would quit Test cricket after playing his 200th match against the West Indies next month quotWell I don39t know if I am happy or sad Happy that I hit the ball and sad day that Sachin is retiring But really happy the way I hit the ball and how I continued to play well since the India A and West Indies A seriesquot Yuvraj said at the postmatch press conference quotDefinitely I would like to dedicate it to Sachin and hopefully maybe tell him on the phone as well That is the least I can do dedicate this knock to him I will also like to dedicate this knock to my mother who prayed a lot for my comeback Everyday she has been praying for mequot he said The 31yearold batsman who last played an international match in January was recalled to the national team after a string of fine performances for India A against West Indies A and a solid display for India Blue in the NKP Salve Challenger Series quotYuvi is back my friendquot he told the media Yuvraj said it was an emotional moment for the country when an iconic cricketer like Tendulkar retires and added that he did not want to see him leave the game quotI don39t think I am going to let him go away I am going to catch hold of his feet and not let him leave the dressing room It has been amazing to play with him for so many years One of the greatest players to have played the game I don39t know what to sayquot he said adding that the team did not discuss Tendulkar39s retirement in the dressing room quotThere are so many things to say about Sachin probably the best Indian cricketer ever played Just the milestone as not only as a cricketer but just as a man who is an ambassador of cricket around the world So it is going to be an emotional time for the whole of Indiaquot Yuvraj said quotSachin will always be very special to me I am sure I will have the opportunity to play with him I don39t know if I will be selected but if I am not playing I will definitely come and watch his last matchquot he added Yuvraj who survived a germ cell cancer said that people should respect Tendulkar39s decision quotIt is upto him when he wanted to retire A player of his stature should decide when he wants to leave I would want him to play for 10 more years with us It is his decision and we need to respect that It will be an emotional time for India when he plays his last matchquot he said Describing the qualities he likes about Tendulkar the flamboyant lefthand batsman said that it would be tough to see the champion batsman go quotHe is a very downtoearth person He never showed he is the great Sachin Tendulkar He was always trying to reach out to youngsters although we were a bit reluctant to go out to him Personally he has always guided me on and off the field about things in my life specially the World Cup journey So it has been very special playing with him I can39t really express it in words It is tough for me to see him goquot He said it would be next to impossible for anybody to fill in the shoes of the 40yearold retiring batsman quotThe way he hits the ball the way he is always still The best batsman I have seen in my career techniquewise How he has been smart all these years to know what bowlers are going to bowl to him He always been one or two steps ahead and that is why he been consistent for so many years To have such consistency over so many years is really tough for any batsman He is just something amazing He has been a God39s gift to India It is going to be difficult for anybody to replace him as the next Tendulkarquot he said Yuvraj rated his comeback knock as special and said quotDefinitely it is special I have come back after a few months I have worked quite hard in the off season and I have worked on the mental aspect of my gamequot he said quotJust happy the way I hit the ball I have been playing well in the domestic season I had a tough off season shed a few kilos so I am happy the way I am hitting the ballquot he added On the unbeaten 102run stand he had with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni Yuvraj said quotWe have had a lot of partnerships in the past And we have always discussed which bowlers to go after If I get out then one person is attacking and one person is trying to rotate the strike We have a very good understanding between us for last couple of years So talking to him always helpsquot He said he hoped to continue his form in the sevenmatch ODI series starting October 13 in Pune quotI hope to continue the good form Play according to the situation and try to make India win again Australia is ranked number two in ODIs They have a very good side It is going to be a good series so I hope to contribute with my batting bowling and fielding It is going to be a tough series and hopefully we can play good tough cricket sensible cricket and win the seriesquot he said u00a0