Sachin has always inspired me: Yuvraj

Gurgaon, April 11 (IANS) India's 2011 World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh said Wednesday that he was touched when batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar paid him a surpirse visit in London, where he was resting after undergoing treatment for a rare germ cell cancer in the US.

"It was great to see him in London. I didn't want this to come out but media would have known. I was delighted to see him. He has been a legend in Indian cricket, a great guy. It was great motivation for me. It was a great that he came all the way to see me," said Yuvraj.

Yuvraj said over a period of time he has developed a "cherished friendship" Tendulkar and missed being a part of the legend's 100th international century.

"I was in touch with Sachin while he was in Australia. I also wanted his 100th hundred. He has always inspired me. I wanted to be part of the team when Sachin got his 200 in ODIs, got his 100th hundred but unfortunately I was not there. I was there in thoughts and congratulated him," Yuvraj said during his first media interaction here after returning home.

"It's a very big achievement. It's just amazing that he has played for so many years. I have developed a cherished friendship with him. Unfortunate that I wasn't there when he got the 100th hundred," he said.

Yuvraj also had words of praise for India's ODI vice-captain Virat Kohli and described him as a "very special kid".

"He is a very special kid, very talented. I have learnt from him. His focus and work ethic is immense. I feel why I did not have a work ethic like him. In his age, you can be vulnerable but he is very focussed. He is doing phenomenally well, I am really happy for him," he said.

Yuvraj said the most cherished innings in his career was the 57 against Australia in the semifinal of the World Cup.

"It was a very special innings for me because when I was struggling, I would always visualise that I get the winning runs against Australia. So, that's why it is so special for me. The runs are not many but are very important," he said.