Tendulkar more accomplished than Gavaskar: Contractor

Former Indian captain Nari Contractor hailed the world record-equalling performance of Sachin Tendulkar and described him as a more "accomlished player" than batting legend Sunil Gavaskar.

"If you ask me to compare Sachin and Sunil... then Sachin is a more accomplished player in all departments. His utility to the team is great and he performed tremendously," said Contractor in Kolkata.

Tendulkar, who had joined Gavaskar as the leading century-maker in Test cricket by scoring his 34th ton on Saturday, is a "more all-round cricketer" than his legendary senior, Contractor feels.

"He (Sachin) bowls well, fields well and bats in number one and four positions. He is a more all-round cricketer than Sunil," said Contractor, who was a regular opener for India during his time.

The former captain, however, hastened to add "I am not trying to take anything away from Sunil. He was great. He was the only batsman except for Vivian Richards, who dared to face pace attack without helmet. Later he (Gavaskar) put on the skull-cap."

Contractor, whose international cricketing career had a premature end following a head injury that he sustained during the Barbados Test against West Indies in 1962, however, conceded that it was difficult to draw any comparison between the two great players who ruled the game in two different periods.