Critics can't tell me when I should retire: Tendulkar

Mumbai, Mar.25 (ANI): Interacting with media here days after achieving the memorable landmark of 100 international cricket tons, Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar took a potshot at critics, saying they would not be the ones deciding when he should hang up his boots.

He also said he would be the happiest and most satisfied man if an Indian cricketer broke his seemingly unconquerable record of 100 international centuries.

In a wide-ranging interaction, Tendulkar, 38, said: "I don't know. I guess all the records are meant to be broken, but I hope it's an Indian. I don't think you can predict that (whether it will be surpassed) but I hope it's an Indian, whenever it happens."

Tendulkar, who reached the milestone during the recent Asia Cup, further said: "I feel that when I retire, is something that I would decide, because when I started, it was not decided by someone else. Those who are advising me about retirement did not bring me in the team. I get my strength from my coaches and family."

"When I feel I don't have that, on that day, I will think of retirement. I feel those who say you should retire at the top are selfish, because when you are at the top, you should serve the country instead of retiring," he added.

When asked whether he had celebrated the achievement with his team-mates, Tendulkar said the celebrations were muted, as India lost the match to Bangladesh.

"I don't think that we are celebrating that one match. Where I am right now took 23 years, and not one match. I feel the result was very important. It was very disappointing. The day I got the hundred there was no celebration," he recalled.

Tendulkar said he did not have to prove anything now and would continue as long as he enjoyed playing the game.

"I don't think I need to prove anything right now. I started playing this game because I loved it, I still enjoy it. The passion for cricket was there. The dream was to play for India and win the World Cup, I don't think anything can be bigger than that," he said.

"I can't think of milestones. I have been able to play for India and win the World Cup. I don't know what is in store for me but my focus would be to just enjoy the game. I don't want to focus on what I have to achieve because I have already achieved what I wanted," he added. (ANI)