Amitabh Bachchan On Sachin's Retirement: I Felt My Heart Beat Has Stopped

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan is disappointed over master blaster Sachin Tendulkar's decision to call it quits after his 200th Test match. "When I heard this news, I felt my heart beat has stopped. The heart beat of Indian cricket has stopped. I don't have words to praise him and his work. He played a phenomenal innings.. He has excelled himself in the game he played and has become a symbol of great excellence for our country," Bachchan said.

"And for him to retire from this game is just unimaginable. Somewhere we cannot imagine if cricket will be same without him. We wish him all the best. He has served the nation for so many years and created so many unbelievable records, perhaps never ever to be matched by any other individual," the 71-year-old actor said.

Yesterday, Tendulkar announced his decision to retire after his 200th match against the West Indies next month, bringing the curtains down on an extraordinary career spanning a marathon 24-years.

Tendulkar's 200th Test match is most likely to be held at his home ground in Mumbai from November 14. The Eden Gardens in Kolkata is also a contender for hosting that historic match. The BCCI has not yet announced the venues for the two Tests against the West Indies. The iconic batsman recently retired from the IPL and the Champions League T20 event after his franchise Mumbai Indians won both the titles this year. When asked about any of Sachin's innings that he vividly remembers, Bachchan said, "Whenever he (Sachin) plays it is all memorable, it is difficult to choose one."

PTI