Port of Spain, Jun 4 (IANS): Legendary batsman Viv Richards has said that India's batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar is the best batsman he has ever seen in his life.

"I didn't see Don (Bradman) but to me, in all my years associated with the game, I haven't seen a better batsman than Sachin Tendulkar. If there is a better batsman than Sachin, then he hasn't arrived yet," said the legendary batsman on the sidelines of a promotional event at the Queen's Park Oval here Thursday.

Richards was an idol for Tendulkar.

Richards said Tendulkar has achieved every possible thing in his kitty, and rated the Mumbaikar maestro as a "complete cricketer".

"To me the most remarkable thing about Tendulkar is how he has completed the full cycle of his cricketing career, overcoming pain, agony, failures, fatigue, injuries yet continuing relentlessly till the point the circle was complete. He is the most complete package, the cricketer I respect more than anyone else," he said.

Richards said Tendulkar took the right decision by skipping the complete West Indies tour.

"He is 37 and not getting any younger. You have got to respect him for his decision. He has done enough to decide what is best for him. He knows his commitments and the approach he must take for the rest of his career," he said.

Richards, however, feels that Tendulkar's presence could have done a world of good to the young cricketers of the Caribbean.

"It would have been fantastic for the young boys to just watch him in action; how he prepares his innings; the way he goes about building his knock, overcoming conditions and opponents. It could have been an invaluable experience for our young batsmen," he said.