Sachin: I’ll continue to play as long as I'm enjoying

Sachin Tendulkar will play his 170th Test at Mohali on Friday, 01 Oct 2010 but even after over 20 years in international cricket the senior India batsman says he never takes anything for granted and his success is a reflection of his constant hard work.

“There are ups and downs when you complete a circle of life, its not always about being on the top and in life there are ups and downs but it’s important to complete that circle and that’s what has happened in my career,” Sachin said.

Tendulkar said there are no short cuts to success.

“I don’t want to take anything for granted. I have worked hard over the years to be part of the Indian team. The key thing is to continue to work hard and try and get better each day of the life and make sure that you enjoy every moment and that’s what I try to do,” he said.

Asked how old was he when he started playing cricket, Tendulkar said, “I don’t want to talk about that, but as long as I am enjoying, it’s wonderful to be here (I will continue to play).”

Asked about the five-Test match series that used to be played earlier, Tendulkar said, “I think given the current schedule, it’s going to be difficult to accommodate that… it will take a mega effort to organise it (such a series).”

“It requires a different temperament altogether. Sometimes you start the series brilliantly, but don’t end up that well. Sometimes, you start badly, but end up becoming man of the series. It’s a great learning curve,” he said.

Tendulkar holds most batting records under his belt and is on the verge of reaching 14,000 runs in Test cricket. Closely following him is Australian skipper Ricky Ponting with 12,026 runs but Tendulkar said he doesn’t want to talk about records.

“I don’t like to talk about records, let others talk about it. I will keep scoring runs.”

Ponting should look to Tendulkar - Taylor

Ricky Ponting should seek inspiration from Sachin Tendulkar's batting renaissance, according to the former captain of Australia, Mark Taylor. Tendulkar and Ponting are the two leading run scorers in Test history and they will be key men in the upcoming two-Test series in India.

But whereas Tendulkar, 37, has shone over the past year with six Test hundreds and an average of 81.84, it hasn't been as easy for Ponting, 35, who has scored one century and averaged 40.05. Taylor, who endured a memorable lean period during his final years of Test cricket, said life would not get any easier for Ponting.

"He is not getting any better," Taylor told DNA. "He may no longer be the batsman he was in his late 20s but he is still a very good batsman. Honestly, Ponting's best is behind him but he is still capable of scoring big hundreds."

Ponting's form is not unlike that of Tendulkar during 2006 and 2007; during those years Tendulkar averaged 41.72 with two centuries in 17 Tests. Taylor said he was impressed by Tendulkar's return to form, which has also included the first double-century in one-day internationals.

"I think Sachin has had a rebirth," Taylor said. "He is really batting at his best and that can be a sort of inspiration for Ponting. It might be difficult for him to overhaul Sachin's number of centuries because the Indian master is lengthening the gap between them.

"But Ponting has this job of rebuilding the Australian side. The current Australian side is very much his. Seniors like Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Matthew Hayden have all gone. It is a much younger side.

"I think Ponting's focus has moved a little bit away from his personal milestones. In that sense, Sachin is fortunate. He does not have to worry about captaincy. That is probably the reason why he is making hundreds."

"Ponting's is a young Australian side which plays very good cricket but is not consistent," he said. "I'm sure Ponting would be working on this area to reduce the number of bad sessions. They tend to lose five or six wickets in a session when they could do well by losing just two or three."

Sachin's bat to go under auctioneer's hammer

Memorabilia belonging to 25 top sports persons from India and overseas, including tennis star Roger Federer, batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar and chess ace Viswanathan Anand, will go under the auctioneer's hammer in Mumbai on October 29.

Six of the precious memorabilia, including the gold medal won by Anand after beating Vladimir Kramnik in a World Championship match in Bonn in 2008, the bat used by Tendulkar when he scored an unbeaten 163 against New Zealand in a one-day international in Christchurch 2009, Federer signed tennis shoes (donated by Globosports), were unveiled at a function in Mumbai on Thursday.

Tennis racquets used by Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi to win the mixed doubles Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon (2010) and Australia (2009) respectively are also a part of 'Equation 2010 - An Auction for Equality', conducted by actor Rahul Bose's NGO 'The Foundation'.

Eleven sportspersons have confirmed their presence for the auction and Bose added that the event was likely to have representation from Bollywood as well.

The other donors are: Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Virender Sehwag, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (all Cricket); Vijay Amritraj, Sania Mirza (both Tennis), Prakash Padukone and Saina Nehwal (both Badminton), Pankaj Advani and Geet Sethi (Billiards), Baichung Bhutia (Football), Viren Rasquinha and Ajit Pal Singh (both Hockey).

ICC awards don't matter if you are Tendulkar: Yuvraj

Sachin Tendulkar's greatness cannot be measured by the number of awards he has won in his career, feels Yuvraj Singh.

Despite scaling almost every cricketing records, Tendulkar has never won any ICC award, but Yuvraj said, "It doesn't make any difference because he is Sachin Tendulkar".

"Whether he has won any ICC award or not it doesn't matter, because Sachin Tendulkar is Sachin Tendulkar, and there is no comparison," the dashing left-hander said.

The iconic batsman from Mumbai has been short-listed for the ICC Cricketer of the Year award and will be hoping to break the jinx on October 6 at the ICC awards night in Bangalore. Tendulkar is also in running for both the Test and ODI Player of the Year awards.

Asked about the series against the Aussies, Yuvraj said "like any India-Australia series it will be competitive again".

" India is the No. 1 Test team in the world and Australia is also not far behind. Both teams have players who have played a lot of competitive cricket, so it should be very competitive," Yuvraj said.

While the selection committee blamed Yuvraj's fitness and form for failing to find a berth in the Test squad, the Punjab batsman reiterated that he is "totally fit but there have been lots of issues over my fitness".

Sachin Tendulkar congratulates boxer Mary Kom

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar has praised boxer Mary Kom after the Manipuri won the gold medal at the World Boxing Championships in Bridgetown.

"Got 2 knw abt Mary Kom's stupendous achievement when I got back frm South Africa. Simply amazing!All the more remarkable aft taking break n havin 2 kids"

Sachin said on micro-blogging site Twitter on Wednesday, 22 Sep 2010.

Mary Kom won her fifth successive World Championship title, after beating Steluta Duta of Romania 16-6 in the final of the 48kg category. The 27-year old, a mother-of-two has won a medal in each edition of the World Boxing Championship. Her first medal at the AIBA World Boxing Championships came in 2001. Then 18, Mary had to settle for silver after she was beaten in the final by Hullya Sahin of Turkey.

Nicknamed 'Magnificent Mary', the pint-sized pugilist has been winning laurels consistently for the country. She was given the Arjuna Award in 2004, and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2009. Mary Kom was also given the Padma Shri for excellence in Sports in 2006. She is now supported by the Olympic Gold Quest and her aim now is to win a medal at the London Olympics in 2012.

Tendulkar unhappy with idea of fresh player auction in IPL

Rules stipulate that only four players can be retained, and not for nothing is Sachin Tendulkar bristling. Tendulkar rarely reacts strongly but the issue of the new IPL auction, it seems, is a sore point.

"That part (about player retention) is quite difficult (to accept)," were his opening remarks on the subject in Durban on Sunday night. "We have really worked hard to build this team and have got together brilliantly. In the third year (they finished runners-up) we held a couple of camps, which had nothing to do with cricket. "It was just to know each other well," said a by-now emotional Mumbai Indians skipper.

"We just got together, played table tennis, (did some) swimming and (indulged) in other sports. It was just about getting together and building team spirit," added Tendulkar. "Right from the management and the owners, Mr and Mrs Ambani, they have all put in a lot of effort along with the players and then you realize that the team has to change. It's tough to accept that."

What he said next could set the BCCI and the IPL governing council thinking. "I feel it is about building teams, not breaking teams," thundered the usually reticent Tendulkar, without exactly raising his voice at any point. On earlier occasions too, Tendulkar has spoken out against the upcoming IPL auction and he was one of the first to have pleaded for player retention.

"I don't know, it's not my job to figure what's right or wrong but I feel if a player is happy to play for a particular team, it's good he stays with that team," was Tendulkar's reply when asked if he was happy with the retention formula announced sometime earlier by the IPL, wherein a team can retain a maximum of four players, not more than three being Indian and all subject to a player's consent. "There's some sort of identity with that team. We have a huge following now (something obvious in South Africa where they have been supported more than the home teams) and it's also an attachment with a particular team," he said.

Of course, not everyone feels or thinks like him and Rahul Dravid holds a different view. He had spoken on the issue a few days earlier and said: "One has to understand that two more teams are entering the IPL, and the beauty of the IPL is that it's very competitive, anyone can win."

We have to win the next two games convincingly: Tendulkar

DURBAN: The Mumbai Indians are not out of the Champions League T20, at least not yet, but they sure are down. It's not the results alone that tell the story, one look at skipper Sachin Tendulkar, addressing a rare post-match press conference on Tuesday night, and the agony was clear.

Put yourselves in Tendulkar's shoes. Here is one of the greatest ever cricketers that have graced the earth, captaining the richest (the two new IPL teams are yet to get going) cricket club in the world, owned by a man who in a few years from now is expected to become the richest person in the world and who flies in on match days in his private Boeing 737. And here he is, Tendulkar, not knowing what else he can do to get his side to win against provincial sides, one of whom has had even forced to part with its professional player ( Kieron Pollard).

It is not the money alone that is a factor, yes when you get paid exorbitant amounts you want to justify it with your performance - at least someone like Tendulkar thinks that way - but it is also about representing the cricket-mad city of Mumbai, the winner of as many as 39 Ranji Trophy titles.

Poor fielding combined with ordinary bowling was what did the Mumbai Indians in at Kingsmead on Tuesday and Tendulkar was offering no excuses. "Yes you do get upset at the full tosses and the fielding lapses but you also know that these things happen at times. It shouldn't but it does," said Tendulkar.

He was quite harsh at the catch he dropped himself, the first of at least four let offs by the team. "I thought I had it covered but then it got away. Again these things happen but we have to adjust accordingly," Tendulkar said.

He didn't use the cliché 'catches win matches' but did say: "It is always important to get breakthroughs for that is the only way to stop a side. But with both openers being dropped ( Michael Klinger and Daniel Harris), the breakthroughs didn't come. This nullified the fantastic bowling opening we were given (by Lasith Malinga and Zaheer who conceded just 27 from the first five overs).

Perhaps the dew played its part but it was a factor Tendulkar talked about only on being asked. "Yes, perhaps it didn't allow the bowlers to get the yorkers right as they would have liked, some resulting in full tosses but even then until the 18th over, we still had things in control. We have to win the next two games, win them convincingly and then see," Tendulkar explained.

Sachin a great motivator for all of us: Harbhajan

When it comes to taking inspiration, Sachin Tendulkar is the only name that comes to off-spinner Harbhajan Singh’s mind.

Harbhajan says he was amazed to see the deep passion with which Sachin still approaches the game even after 20 successful years in international cricket and considers himself lucky to have played under the leadership of the legendary batsman.

“Sachin, to me he’s not 37, he still looks 25. The way he bats, the way he runs around and the way he does all the work or whatever that is required to be there where he’s today and I think he is tremendous,” Harbhajan said.

“He’s god of not just Indian cricket, he’s god of (world) cricket and he’s just someone who’s always there for you.

Obviously it is great to have him as a leader of Mumbai Indians and he’s been a great motivator for all of us.

He has been a great role model for all of us,” he added.

Harbhajan also do not have any hesitation in admitting that Sachin played an important role in their final appearance in the third edition of the IPL earlier this year.

“I think he played a lot of good innings during the IPL III and if I have to pick one innings, it would be that knock against Rajasthan (Royals) in Jaipur. That was fantastic and set up the game for us in the last three overs,” Harbhajan told ESPN.

“I think he scored about 50 odd runs in the last three overs after we were just 110 in the 17th over. That’s where he changed the game. Scoring, I think 15-20 runs, in an over that was the best I have seen of him in IPL III, that was my favourite innings,” he added.

Harbhajan said that the Mumbai Indians players were gearing up to put their best foot forward in the Champions League T20 in South Africa.

“Our team is very excited about this competition in South Africa because this is a tournament in which we would like to play well. We are very happy that we have qualified for this tournament and we are up for it.

“I’m sure it is going to be very challenging and very tough out there but I’m sure we have got players who can play in any kind of condition and take on any kind of challenges. We are really up for and looking forward to this event to begin,” he said.

I care about playing quality cricket: Tendulkar

He has been playing cricket for over 20 years now, but Sachin Tendulkar says he remains as passionate about the game as he was in his initial days in the sport.

"I always wanted to go out and compete hard," the Mumbai Indians skipper told ESPN-Star ahead of the Champions League Twenty20 match against Highveld Lions in Johannesburg.

"Playing for Mumbai has always meant something special for me and playing for India also has been extremely special. It was a dream and I am living that dream...and when Mumbai and India are combined together it becomes Mumbai Indians," he added.

Talking about the disappointment of losing the IPL final to Chennai Super Kings after being almost unbeatable in the league stages, Tendulkar said, "You know, I was determined like every other time I was determined. My preparations were exactly the same.

"Sometimes you score runs sometimes you don't but I can assure you the efforts put in was always the same," he added.

This is the greatest honour given to me: Sachin

Group Captain Sachin Tendulkar said that the honour conferred to him by the Indian Air Force was his greatest achievement and that he is indeed happy to be a part of the IAF family.

India’s legendary cricketer, Tendulkar, who is not new to awards and honours, was conferred with Indian Air Force’s honorary rank of Group Captain on Friday.

Looking crisp and dignified in his sky blue uniform, Tendulkar jokingly said that the least he could do to look like an Air Force officer was to wear the signature aviator glasses.

However, overwhelmed with the respect bestowed upon him, Sachin said, “I have become part of your (IAF) family and it is indeed a pleasure to be honoured by the Indian Air Force, which is regarded as the best Air Force in the world.”

“I will not say that it was a-dream-come-true. But is it is something which one can only wish for, and I am happy that it has come to me,” Sachin added.

Sachin also said that he was really scared during his aircraft training. “It was a frightening experience during the air craft lessons,” he said.

“However, this is the greatest honour bestowed on me. I also want to take this opportunity on behalf of the nation to salute the Indian Air Force,” he added.

“I also want to urge the youth of India to join the Indian Air Force as this is a great honour and opportunity to serve the country. Jai Hind,” he concluded.

Indian Air Force honours Sachin

Sachin Tendulkar was on Friday conferred with the Indian Air Force’s honorary rank of Group Captain to honour his cricketing achievements and contribution to the nation.

Tendulkar is the first sportsperson to be conferred a rank by IAF and the first personality with no aviation background to receive the honour.

In 2008, Kapil Dev had received the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the Territorial Army.

Tendulkar was inducted into the Air Force as its brand ambassador with IAF chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik doing the honours in a glittering ceremony at the Air Force auditorium here.

“It’s a great pleasure and honour to be honoured by IAF. It was a wishful thinking and it has come true today. I’m extremely proud to be a part of IAF. I want to urge the youth to join Air Force and serve the nation. So dream, because dreams do come true,” Tendulkar said after receiving the honour.

Earlier, President Pratibha Patil had conferred the honorary rank of the IAF on the iconic batsman on June 23 this year.

The rank was conferred on Tendulkar under the provision of granting honorary rank by Armed Forces to eminent personalities acknowledging their contribution towards the nation.

The IAF had, in January this year, mooted a proposal to confer the honorary rank of Group Captain on Tendulkar.

IAF feels that besides the recognition, his association with it would motivate the younger generation to join the Air Force to serve the country.

Mr. Naik said the batting legend’s association with IAF will help in making the youth aware about the Air Force.

“Youth admires him (Tendulkar). I think the youth will get inclined towards the Air Force. What youth will do in future we can’t say but the indications that we are getting from school students ... we are hopeful.

“To take corrective measures in reforming the IAF is my duty and Sachin’s association will help in spreading awareness (about the Air Force),” Mr. Naik said.

Before being felicitated with the honorary rank, Sachin had gone through a process of familiarisation with the IAF and training in basic military practices and drills.