Having played all his cricket for India in Sachin Tendulkar’s company, Sourav Ganguly is well qualified to talk about The Master.

In the lead-up to Sachin’s 200th and final Test, Sourav spoke to The Telegraph exclusively on the man who had a significant influence on him.

For those who swear by statistics, Sourav and Sachin featured in 21 century partnerships in ODIs, a record which still stands.

Clearly, they complemented each other.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q. Is it easier taking a call on retirement than actually living with the decision?

A. I assume you’re referring to Sachin.… He’s started living with it and, obviously, the decision has been well thought out. It couldn’t have been made overnight. He’d finished with the ODIs last year, then with the IPL and the CLT20.… This was coming.

Q. You appeared to have regrets over your own decision to retire from international cricket (in November 2008)....

A. But that could happen, as the people around you don’t want you to retire.… The fans want you to continue.… I retired five years ago, but some still want me to make a return!

Q. Just what could be Sachin’s feelings on the morning after his last day as an India cricketer?

A. Sachin, I’m sure, will be grateful for having played so long, till the start of his 25th year. He’s been different from the rest and, because he’s been so good, was never ever under pressure to keep his place.

Q. Some have suggested Sachin should have retired earlier. Where do you stand on this?

A. Individuals will have different opinions. He hasn’t been at his best in the past couple of years.… A lot of factors go into the making of such a big decision, so you may not get the timing right. Circumstances vary from individual to individual.

Q. No one has got a send-off like Sachin’s getting.…

A. Sachin deserves it, as he changed the face of Indian cricket.… Nothing goes on forever and even the Prime Minister can’t keep occupying the chair.

Q. It’s an emotional time for millions, isn’t it?

A. (Hint of emotion) Absolutely.… For team-mates, former team-mates like Rahul (Dravid) and I, and the men and women on the street. The likes of Rahul and I are fortunate to have played with Sachin, to have seen him become the great he is.

Q. When was the first time you met Sachin?

A. At an U-15 camp in Indore.

Q. So, what did you make of Sachin then?

A. From what I remember, Sachin had an enormous love for the game, which manifested itself in many forms.… Later, we went together to England with Kailash Ghattani’s team.… Bombay (as Mumbai was then known) had a big presence in Indian cricket, unlike now, and people had begun talking about Sachin. I knew he’d play for India sooner rather than later, but had no idea how great he’d become. My idea of greatness was different.

Q. What did greatness then mean to you?

A. Meant Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev... Dilip Vengsarkar and Mohinder Amarnath. Then came my generation.… The next lot of greats will include Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Q. The greats keep surfacing.…

A. That’s the way it should be.… The chapter doesn’t, and shouldn’t, end with one generation.… It’s up to Virat, Rohit and Cheteshwar Pujara to take up the baton and, in the years to come, hand it to another bunch of greats in the making.

Q. How has Sachin handled all the pressure so well?

A. If you perform, you develop the belief that you can do it.… Once that belief takes root, you become strong within, which Sachin was from such a young age.… I wouldn’t say it’s arrogance, but just a strong belief that you can’t be stopped. I felt that way when I was dropped in 2005 and in 2006.… I believed I could make a comeback and I was determined…. I did return to the Indian team.

Q. Would you place Sachin above Brian Lara or on a par with him?

A. Sheer numbers put Sachin ahead of Brian; otherwise, they’re on a par.

Q. The other day, Dravid said he’d get Sachin to bat for his life but for pure entertainment, he’d pay and watch Lara.…

A. (Laughs) There you are; Rahul’s kept both happy!

Q. How emotional are you going to be on Sachin’s last day as an India cricketer?

A. I won’t be sad, for Sachin’s made the right decision.… Everyone has to go and he’s leaving at the right time.… Had he continued playing, he would have let down Brand Tendulkar, which is very special and so very dear to us.

Q. You must have been invited to Sachin’s rather exclusive party after the Test.…

A. Yes.… Hope the cuisine is good! I was joking, for I’m sure it will be.

Q. What will you remember the most as Sachin probably does a thank-you lap at the Wankhede?

A. Sachin’s commitment to the game and the way he handled his talent.… Every cricketer can’t be like Sachin, yet nothing stops them learning from him.… Learning from his single-minded focus and devotion to the game. Where talent goes, Sachin will remain one of a kind.

Q. You’ve been particularly close to Sachin… do you recall an instance where he helped you off the field?

A. Sachin stood up for me when Sir Greg Chappell kicked me out of the team.… He spoke to Mr Sharad Pawar, who was then the Board president, telling him that I’d been wronged.… I’ll always be grateful to Sachin.… During his years as the India captain, he played an important role in my career.… I’d only just made my Test debut and you need the captain’s support to move forward. The captain’s encouragement is a must.… Sachin was very kind to promote me as an opener in ODIs and that was a career-defining change for me. Indeed, had I not batted at the top of the order, I would have been half the ODI player I became. (An all-time great in the 50-over format, Sourav finished with 11,363 runs, including 22 hundreds, at an average of 41.02.)

Q. The promotion came against Australia in Jaipur, in 1996-97.…

A. Yes. Sachin had himself moved up from the middle order and, when he asked if I’d like to open, I dared not say ‘No’.… At that point, whether I wanted to or not, I didn’t have the guts to decline his offer.

Q. To cut to more recent times… what did Sachin tell you when the two of you embraced at the Eden after the first Test?

A. Happened so suddenly.… I could barely tell him how proud we were of everything he’d done.… He didn’t get the time to say anything.… But we’ll soon catch up with each other and there’ll be plenty to talk about.

Q. How would you like Sachin to remain involved with the game?

A. Look, Sachin should first take a break for a couple of years.… The man deserves it as he’s been on the road for a quarter of a century from the time he made his first-class debut (1988-89).… I don’t know what the Board has in mind, but somebody with his experience should be tapped for the benefit of the next generation.… However, he’ll have to be keen first.

Q. Lastly... do you intend inviting Sachin on your Dadagiri show?

A. I’d love to, but it’s in Bengali, a language Sachin isn’t really conversant with. So, let’s see, maybe in next year’s edition.