Sachin Tendulkar retires: What they said about the 'God of Cricket'

Sachin Tendulkar, who has announced his retirement next month, was widely regarded by his cricketing peers as the greatest batsman since the Australian legend Donald Bradman.

Here is a selection of quotes on the man dubbed the "Little Master":

Donald Bradman: "I saw him (Sachin) playing on television and was struck by his technique, so I asked my wife to come look at him. Now I never saw myself play, but I feel that this player is playing much the same as I used to play, and she looked at him on television and said yes, there is a similarity between the two... his compactness, technique, stroke production... it all seemed to gel."

Australian spin legend Shane Warne: "Sachin Tendulkar is, in my time, the best player without a doubt -- daylight second, Brian Lara third."

West Indies great Viv Richards: "He has been a genius when it comes to ability, a Trojan when it comes to work ethic and manic when it comes to his focus."

Former teammate Rahul Dravid: "What he has done is set a benchmark for future generations which, probably, would be almost impossible for anyone to emulate."

West Indies contemporary Brian Lara: "Sachin is a genius. I'm a mere mortal."

Anil Kumble, who holds the record for most Test wickets for India: "I am fortunate that I've to bowl at him only in the nets."

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni: "His schoolboy-like enthusiasm for the game is something I envy and admire. For the team he is the best available coaching manual."
 
England coach and former Zimbabwe batsman Andy Flower: "There are two kind of batsmen in the world. One, Sachin Tendulkar. Two, all the others."

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan: "I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing us to breathe the same air as you do."