Gilchrist & Finch wishes Sachin Tendulkar ahead of his 40th birthday

Two days ahead of Sachin Tendulkar's 40th birthday, the legendary Adam Gilchrist recalled the veteran Indian's match-winning innings that had knocked the stuffing out of the Australian bowlers way back in 1998 at Sharjah.

Chasing a stiff target, Tendulkar single-handedly took India to title triumph by slamming a century on April 24, his birthday.

"I remember Sharjah 1998 when he belted us all over the park and won the game and cost us the title. Sachin that was a good one, mate," Gilchrist said after his side Kings XI Punjab's win over Pune Warriors in the IPL last night.

"Sachin is is a legend and what else can you say about him. Do wish him many happy returns."

When told that Tendulkar will be turning 40, Gilchrist said, "40th is it, yeah, okay. Doesn't get  any easy after 40, mate."

As the scribes present in the post-match conference posed the question on Tendulkar's birthday, Gilchrist had initially joked, "You are going to ask this question every year about his birthday."

Pune's Aaron Finch said cricket lovers admire Tendulkar immensely.

"The sheer amount of runs that he has been able to score over his career is phenomenal. Anyone who hasn't been to India probably can't understand the pressure every single time he comes out to bat and that's a phenomenal achievement what he has done for the game.

"I think especially in India and around the world he has single handedly carried forward the country's expectations on his shoulders for such a long time," Finch said about Tendulkar.

© PTI