3 batting legends who delayed their ODI retirement for too long

#1 Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar is hailed as the ‘God of Cricket’ by millions of fans all over the world. The ‘Master Blaster’ holds just about every single record in the ODI format of the game, including that for the most runs (18,426), most hundreds (49) and most fifties (96).

Tendulkar finally fulfilled his long cherished dream of winning the World Cup on his sixth and final attempt in the year 2011, in front of his adoring fans in Mumbai. The master batsman was expected to announce his retirement after this triumph, but Tendulkar carried on, picking and choosing his ODI assignments in the subsequent year.

Tendulkar's search for his devilish hundredth hundred finally ended in the Asia Cup encounter against Bangladesh in March 2012, but he was not the same batsman that he once was. Apart from his slow 114 against Bangladesh, Tendulkar crossed the fifty run mark just once in his last 10 innings.

The legendary batsman was reportedly informed about the decision of the selectors to drop him from the squad. Tendulkar announced his retirement from ODI cricket immediately, ahead of the squad selection for the ODI series against Pakistan.

In fact, this is what the then chairman of selectors Sandeep Patil had to say about Tendulkar:

"On 12 December 2012 we met Sachin and asked him about his future plans. He said he did not have retirement on his mind. But the selection committee had reached a consensus on Sachin... and had informed the board too about it. Perhaps Sachin understood what was coming because at the time of the next meeting, Sachin called and said he was retiring (from ODIs). If he had not announced his decision to quit then, we would have definitely dropped him."