Ricky Ponting's decision to call it quits onThursday might have added fuel to the fire in the raging debate over SachinTendulkar's retirement, but India opener Gautam Gambhir feels his seniorteammate still has a lot to offer.
"Nobody can force anyone to retire. Each individual knows when is the besttime to retire. Ponting retiring doesn't mean that Sachin also has to quit now.It's an individual decision.
They are from two different countries, two different individuals. So there isno question of a comparison," Gambhir said.
At a time when the 39-year-old Mumbaikar's place in the team has beenquestioned by critics, Gambhir went to the extent of saying that Tendulkarstill has the "capability to make lots of runs for India".
"His presence in the dressing room itself is a big thing for the country.I am sure he will come out of it. Everybody goes through ups and downs. It'sthe sheer joy of playing the game, he loves playing.
"He is the greatest cricketer India has produced. Not just on the field,as a mentor he contributes off the field too. He still has the capability tomake lots of runs for India," Gambhir said at an event here.
Coming back to Ponting, who today announced that he will retire from Testcricket after playing in the third Test against South Africa in Perth, Gambhircalled him Australia's "best ever captain".
"He is a legend of the game. He has played cricket on his own terms, he isretiring on his own terms. His record in all three formats speaks for itself.He has been Australia's most successful captain ever."
Gambhir came out in support of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and sawnothing wrong in the skipper asking for a turning wicket.
"A captain should get the kind of wicket he wants.There is nothing wrong in it. We all should support him instead of making it anissue. If he thinks he can win on a particular sort of wicket we should supporthim.
"After all he is your captain and he will only thinkabout victory. All the former captains would ask for turners.
I think during Mohammad Azharuddin's time we used to play onturning tracks, nobody had raised a question then."
The Delhi player also felt that he and his teammates shouldnot be blamed all the time for defeat.
"What amazes me is that we never appreciate theopposition. We should also praise the opposition rather than criticise our ownplayers.
"The opposition does play good cricket. They are nothere to just make up the numbers. The series is tied 1-1, we haven't lost ityet and we can still come back. Any country can bounce back today," saidGambhir.
Asked how crucial was his second-inning half century in theMumbai Test from his career's point of view, Gambhir said, "Any knock isimportant for me. Every run I score for my country is very satisfying.
On the English spinners' performance in Mumbai Test, hesaid, "They bowled very well, both (Graeme) Swann and (Monty) Panesar, butthat doesn't mean we can't tackle spin well.
"England can win anywhere, they have got the quality inbatting and bowling. But remember we were world number 1 and have won Testmatches in Australia, South Africa.
"We are looking forward to the Kolkata Test. We need tobe positive. Would look to dominate them."
Gambhir was here as the face of the Hindustan Times' 'YouRead, They Learn' campaign where he played cricket with the kids and talkedmore about his contribution to the project.
"Kids have to go to school for overalldevelopment, discipline. My biggest motivation is to contribute something formy country, like educating the kids so that they can take their owndecisions," said Gambhir.