Sachin Tendulkar feels Imran Tahir will be the greatest threat for India

Tendulkar feels the Indian batsmen will have their work cut out against Tahir

Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar feels South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir will pose the biggest threat to India’s chances in the four-match Test series between the two sides, reports IBNLive. The Little Master stated the present Indian side as “a fantastic team” while he also recalled his favourite moments from his matches against the Proteas in his illustrious career.

South Africa are set to play three T20Is, five ODIs and four Test matches against India in the tour which runs over two months and former Indian Sourav Ganguly, who was named as the new president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) following the demise of Jagmohan Dalmiya, had singled out Tahir as the one to look out for.

Ganguly’s opinion has been shared by his long-time opening partner Tendulkar who feels that the Indian batsmen will have their work cut out against Tahir, who has been picked for the Proteas squad in all the three formats. He also named the other South African players who will have the biggest impact.

"AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla are strong players and don't forget Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. When you talk about the googly, Imran Tahir is one of the good bowlers. We have to play against him properly and if possibly he can be one of the leading bowlers," Tendulkar said.

Tendulkar, however, has no doubt that India will be more than up to the challenge and feels the Indian team will give the visitors a run for their money making it a fantastic series to witness.

"It will be an exciting series be it Twenty20, One-Day International series and the Test series is something I am looking forward to. Great team balance both sides of the fence. The visiting South African team is a quality side, I never played against a South Africa side which I can say is an okay side. They are always a strong side and it is no different right now," Tendulkar said.

“I think the Indian team is fantastic. They are extremely talented and committed. A lot of things are said about the players but I know them very closely, and when it comes to cricket there are no shortcuts. The guys are committed and I again say it is a fantastic team."

Tendulkar recalls his favourite moments from India-South Africa matches

Tendulkar described the 1993 Hero Cup clash against South Africa as the most incredible match he has been part of

South Africa were one of Sachin’s toughest opponents statistically with his ODI average of 35.73 being the lowest against the major cricket nations. His Test average of 42.46 is only marginally ahead of his average against Pakistan (42.28), and Sachin recalled his first experience against South Africa, both home and away.

"When South Africa first toured India in 1991, that was an incredible experience to play against them, because to see their faces they were shocked to see one lakh spectators at the Eden Gardens. I was extremely happy about that and thought when we are going to tour Africa," Tendulkar said. "We did in 1992 end it was an incredible reception there. In Durban, we were taken it those days those fancy cars, all the way to the hotel from the airport and which was about 30 km away. I was surprised to see people on the roads on both sides greeting us. So that was my first experience of South Africa.”

Tendulkar played 57 ODIs and 25 Tests against the Proteas but was in no doubt as to which his most memorable match was. In fact, he named the 1993 Hero Cup semi-final clash against South Africa, in which Tendulkar gave only three runs in the final over of the match when South Africa needed six to win, as “the most incredible match I have been part of.”

“When you talk about South Africa matches, how can I forget the Hero Cup semi-final, the most incredible match I have been part of. Till the last ball, nobody knew what was happening. That was one big and massive experience for me. South Africa is something which always gives you something new," he said.

It’s been close to two years since Tendulkar retired from cricket but he has been actively involved in many sporting ventures like being the co-owner of the Kerala Blasters franchise in the Indian Super League (ISL) as well as being one of the three members of the BCCI’s advisory committee along with Ganguly and VVS Laxman.

Speaking about his life post-retirement, Tendulkar said: "Life has been busy now and I am enjoying every bit of it. I am being involved in a lot of things. This is my second innings off the field and as I always said I continue to bat for India. This gives me a lot of satisfaction."