Recalling India’s triumph in the 2011 World Cup on the ninth anniversary of the final in Mumbai, fast bowler S Sreesanth said that the chance to play alongside Sachin Tendulkar and lift a World Cup with him was the best gift of his cricket career.

“The best gift ever while playing cricket was surely to be born during the Sachin [ Tendulkar ] era, and getting a chance to play alongside him was unbelievable,” Sreesanth told Cricket World. “He was the real god of cricket who took India to greater heights, millions started to play cricket because of him, and I was no different. I only wanted to meet him and ended up playing the finals standing next to him, winning the World Cup.”

Though Sreesanth had a final to forget, conceding 52 runs in eight wicketless overs, and returning figures of 0-105 in 13 overs overall in the tournament, the World Cup remains the crowning achievement for a generation of India’s cricketers.

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In all, Sreesanth played 90 internationals for India and snared 169 wickets against a wide array of opponents. But he picked England as the best among them.

“England is surely one of the very best sides I’ve ever played against, the best being the 2005 Ashes side. I’ve been fortunate to play alongside some legends and learned from them. I’ve always enjoyed my matches against England. 6/55 is still the best bowling figures by an Indian fast bowler in an ODI on Indian soil.”

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Sreesanth is currently serving the final months of his ban for spot-fixing. Though banned for life in August 2013 by the BCCI, relief arrived in August last year, when the BCCI ombudsman Justice (retired) DK Jain reduced the punishment to seven years, reasoning that the bowler is already past his prime.

Sreesanth’s ban ends in August this year, after which he becomes eligible to represent India and his state side Kerala, although a return to either team is highly unlikely at the moment.