West Indies cricket captain Brian Lara on Saturday revealed his admiration for Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar saying that he had switched off the television during the final of the World Cup in South Africa in March after the Mumbaikar returned to the pavilion in the first over of the Indian innings.

"I switched off the television after my boy (Tendulkar) was out," Lara told newspersons in Kolkata.

Describing Tendulkar as a 'great batsman', Lara said the little master was the one player who had it in him to turn the course of matches single-handedly for India during the mega event.

"He did it throughout the tournament... but unfortunately, not in the final," he said.

Lara, however, hastened to add that it was wrong to focus on one single player and mentioned Rahul Dravid as another 'tremendous player' in the Indian side.

"I hope that this talented player gets the respect he deserves in his country," he added.