Playing in Eden Gardens is a treat: Tendulkar

Kolkata:

Playing under a jam-packed Eden Gardens with around one lakh boisterous supporters rooting for the home team is a treat for any cricketer, said India batsman Sachin Tendulkar.

Tendulkar, who was felicitated by Aryan Club for his 20 years in international cricket, recalled about the time when he first played at Eden Gardens back in 1991 and said the crowd magic at the venue is always vibrant.

"It is said that if you are fielding, we just need to take the first two wickets, crowd takes the remaining eight wickets creating so much pressure and noise.

"When the stadium is filled to the brim with crowd of 90,000 to one lakh shouting, it's really a treat for a cricketer to play here," said Tendulkar on the sidelines of the felicitation.

Tendulkar said he has a very good relation with Kolkata from where former India captain Sourav Ganguly hails.

"I know him closely since our young days when we attended a camp during our under-13 days. We have shared some tough moments together opening the batting in ODIs," Tendulkar said.

Tendulkar said he has seen Ganguly grow as a cricketer.

"Everybody knows his immense contribution to Indian cricket and also Bengal cricket," said Tendulkar.

The champion batsman also thanked Aryan Club for which he had played P Sen Trophy back in the early 1990s.

Earlier, cinestar Mithun Chakraborty felicitated Tendulkar describing the Mumbai batsman as a 'God' of Indian cricket.