It was the perfect time to leave the game: Tendulkar

The feeling has not quite sunk in yet but batting icon Sachin Tendulkar today said it was the perfect time to end his dream journey in cricket as his body was finding it tough to cope with the rigours of international cricket.
A day after bidding an emotional farewell to the game which he considers his "oxygen", Tendulkar said that 75 per cent of his life had revolved around cricket and he had no regrets about hanging his boots after playing for 24 years.
"It hasn't struck me that I won't play cricket again. It has been a dream journey, no regret that I am leaving cricket. This was the right time to stop playing cricket. It was an enjoyable journey," Tendulkar said at a packed press conference here.

"I had a question and when I looked for an answer, I felt it was the perfect time to leave the game."
The 40-year-old maestro, who brought down the curtains on his career after playing his 200th Test yesterday, indicated that he would remain associated with the game after enjoying some time off.
"Cricket has been my life, it is oxygen to me. In 40 years, at least 30 years I have played proper cricket. 75 per cent of my life has been cricket, so there will be some association with the game, maybe not in the immediate future. Still, it is only 24 hours since my retirement, give me at least 24 days to relax. Then I will see what to do," he said.

The champion batsman answered questions ranging from his best playing moments to his tearful retirement during the hour-long interaction with the media.
Asked why he touched the wicket in reverence yesterday, Tendulkar said he just wanted to thank the game which made him an icon.
"I knew never ever in my life I would get to do that again. And that is where my life started and those 22 yards gave me everything. It's like a temple for me. I wanted to say thank you to cricket. I just thanked cricket for everything that I got in my life," he said.