Former Australian batsman Ian Chappell's retirement advisory to Sachin Tendulkar drew the ire of former Indian cricketers who reacted strongly to his comments, saying that the little master does not need anybody's advice and has been in the game long enough to decide his future.

In his column for a Mumbai newspaper, Chappell stirred a hornet's nest by saying Tendulkar has become a shadow of his former self in the last three or four years and has looked like a player trying to "eke out a career".

Former India stumper and current Maharashtra coach Chandrakant Pandit said Tendulkar has played the game for long to judge himself and decide on retirement.

"Sachin Tendulkar is good enough to know his ability and approach towards the game. He is an experienced player and knows how long he should carry on playing," Pandit said.

"With his experience, he knows what is required at that level, he is very much aware. He can judge himself better than anybody else. I don't think anybody should advice him whether to continue or not," he added.

Baroda coach Ashok Mankad felt Chappell's comments about Tendulkar playing only for records are uncalled for as the little champion is known to be a team man and motivator.

"I don't think Sachin has that kind of mindset to play for statistics, he is far above all those petty things."

"Having worked with him for three years and followed his career, I found that he is a positive energy and always puts in and expects hundred percent from himself and others," he said.

Former selection panel chief Chandu Borde, however, chose not to react and said Chappell is entitled to his views.

"Everyone has a right to express his own opinion," he said.

Chappell said now that India is knocked out of the World Cup, one of the major decision would be about Tendulkar's fate and he suggested that the batting icon bid adieu to his career.

"At the moment he looks like a player trying to eke out a career; build on a glittering array of statistics.

"If he really is playing for that reason and not to help win as many matches as he can for India then he is wasting his time and should retire immediately," Chappell wrote.

Comparing Tendulkar with Brian Lara, the former Australian skipper said both are "worlds apart" in effectiveness.

"Lara's quick-footed tip toe through a terrific innings against a good Australian bowling attack when the rest of the West Indies top order succumbed easily was in direct contrast to Tendulkar's stumbling effort in the crucial Sri Lanka match," Chappell said.

Former Indian skipper Ajit Wadekar also felt that India's disastrous World Cup campaign could not be blamed on Tendulkar and it's not time for the Mumbai batsman to call it quits.

"We cannot blame Sachin for the debacle. It's not right. He still has two to three years of good cricket left in him," Wadekar said.