“I was looking forward to the tours to South Africa in December 2013 and New Zealand in early 2014”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Legendary India batsman Sachin Tendulkar has revealed that he did not want to retire after the national team’s home series against the West Indies in November last year.

Tendulkar also noted that he had his sights set on representing India when they toured South Africa at the end of last year and New Zealand at the beginning of this year.

However, following a discussion with his family, he decided to call it quits after his 200th Test.

“I was looking forward to the tours to South Africa in December 2013 and New Zealand in early 2014,” Tendulkar told the Times of India. “But when the BCCI announced a two-Test series with the West Indies in Nov 2013, I had to rethink my plans. It was then – and I don’t know exactly how and when – that the thought of retirement came to me.”

Tendulkar also admitted that he was unsure about whether he could “battle with injuries” for such a long period of time.

“I started to wonder whether those two Tests against the West Indies should be my last,” he said. “I remember discussing it with (wife) Anjali and (brother) Ajit. We were sitting on the first floor lounge of my house when I told them that I was thinking about retiring after the West Indies series. The second Test would be my 200th and I would not have another opportunity to retire on home soil till the end of 2014, and I wasn’t sure if I could battle with injuries for that long. There was no point in dragging things out if my heart wasn’t in it.”