Sachin Tendulkar meets Yuvraj Singh in London

Yuvraj Singh, recovering after his treatment in a US hospital for a rare germ cell cancer, got a morale-boosting visit by his idol Sachin Tendulkar.

The two met for an hour at an apartment of Yuvraj's friend here yesterday. Yuvi, as he is fondly called by his fans, got a warm embrace from Sachin and the two posed for photographs.

Sachin also wished Yuvraj a speedy recovery and an early return to the game.

Yuvraj's fondness for Tendulkar is well-documented and the left-hander dedicated his 2011 World Cup Player-of-the-Tournament to the senior batsman.

During the treatment in Indianapolis, Yuvraj had been paid a visit by former India spinner Anil Kumble.

Yuvraj was discharged from the hospital on March 18 after completing the third and final cycle of chemotherapy to recover from his illness.

"3rd chemo cycles over, back from hospital n I am free.

Road to recovery starts now. Can't wait to be back home," Yuvraj had tweeted after being discharged.

Yuvraj, who was in the US since February, is expected to be back on the field in the first week of May. The 30-year-old had gone bald during the treatment.

Yuvraj has not played competitive cricket since taking part in two of three home Tests against the West Indies in November last year.

He has so far scored 8,051 runs in 274 one-dayers and 1,775 runs in 37 Tests since making his international debut in 2000.

He was named Player of the Tournament in the World Cup last year for scoring 362 runs and grabbing 15 wickets in nine matches.

Marketing Tendulkar’s 100th Ton

The 10th and final Coca Cola can to honor Tendulkar’s landmark century.
Indian cricket fans were not the only ones to rejoice when Sachin Tendulkar scored his 100th century earlier this month.

There are also the many companies that had been waiting for this sporting milestone to cash in on it. Many firms, including the Indian units of Coca-Cola Co. to Adidas AG, were waiting for the little master to score another century to peg marketing campaigns to his 100th hundred. This took a lot longer than they expected – more than a year. Tendulkar, who endorses over 17 brands, ranging from biscuits to bikes, scored his 99th century in March of last year.

Multiretailer Future Group Ltd., for instance, was ready to release limited edition personal care products as part of their existing “Sach” brand. While they haven’t launched these yet, they are now offering “Sach”-branded goods like mouthwash, toothpaste, toothbrush and soap at the discounted prices, according to Devendra Chawla, a senior company official.

Coca-Cola, on the other hand, had to hold off the launch of its 10th “commemorative can” to honor Tendulkar. They finally unveiled their latest Sachin can this week. Atul Singh, President of Coca-Cola India, said in an email that Tendulkar “sits at the pinnacle of international cricket and we at Coca-Cola India compliment and salute his achievement of the 100th hundred.” The latest can, which is golden and costs 20 rupees ($0.3 dollars), honors this achievement.

Other Sachin-inspired products were also rolled out this week. On Tuesday, German sports manufacturer Adidas unveiled limited edition sneakers. “Adidas is privileged to have been a part his impossible journey,” Tushar Goculdas, the company’s brand director for India, said about Tendulkar’s latest century in an email. He expressed hope their new shoes would inspire the cricket star “to greater laurels.”

The special edition of shoes manufactured by Adidas to commemorate Tendulkar.
Available in 100 pairs, the special range of shoes are striped in red and golden, a color combination which symbolizes “passion and courage,” sentiments that they associate with Tendulakar’s performance on the pitch. The shoes are inscribed with special “Sachin Tendulkar” logos.

Sadly, not everyone can fit into Adidas’s Tendulkar shoes, which are only available in his own shoe size, U.K. size 8. The company is yet to finalize the price of the shoes and when they will be available for sale.

Aviva Life Insurance, on the other hand, is planning to launch contests open to employees and customers, which would give the winner the “opportunity to meet their icon and congratulate him in person,” said Gaurav Rajput, Aviva India’s marketing director.

Few companies have sought to market Tendulkar’s 100th ton as extensively as the India unit of Canon Inc.

Tendulkar’s 100th ton was a huge “sign of relief” for marketers, Alok Bharadwaj, senior vice president of Canon India, said in an interview.

In one of their campaigns, customers who purchase a Canon camera before April 10 can get a picture taken in Canon shops that is then framed with images from Tendulkar’s 100 centuries.

Another Canon initiative promises goodies signed by the little master to winners of a competition. Fans have to pick what they think is Tendulkar’s most-cherished century. The first 100 people to get it right get free goodies.

“Companies are well aware that his 100th century would live on forever but the marketability of the moment has a finite life,” said Mr. Bharadwaj.

But will marketing Tendulkar’s 100th ton pay off? Experts believe it will.

Chhavi Bhargava, managing director of market-research firm TNS India, said it “definitely give mileage to companies.” But she cautioned that companies can only look to reap short-term benefits, as the “hype” around his landmark century would soon fade away.

Coca Cola to roll out 7.2 lakh cans featuring Sachin Tendulkar

Coca Cola India will roll out 7.2 lakh 'golden cans' featuring batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar to commemorate his historic 100th century earlier this month.

"We have put 7.2 lakh golden cans and we don't think they will last many days," Coca Cola India - director marketing Wasim Basir said.

"Wherever we traditionally distribute cans, these cans would be available there," he added.

The 38-year-old cricketer scored his 100th international century against Bangladesh in an Asia Cup match on March 16, scoring 114 off 147 deliveries.

While nine of such cans in different colours have been launched in the markets in 2011, displaying the centuries personally picked by Sachin, the 10th limited edition Golden Can was put on hold awaiting his 100th hundred.

The golden cans will be available for Rs 20. "This is the first time in history of Coca Cola India we are honouring someone....This is the first time we have agreed to put a face on our cans," he said.

Tendulkar's achievement something superhuman: Srikkanth

Praising batting ace Sachin Tendulkar, Selection Committee Chairman Krishnamachari Srikkanth today described his achievement of hundred international tons as something superhuman and cited him as a classic example for "thriving in an imbalanced world."

Srikkanth, an ardent admirer of Tendulkar, was addressing a seminar on'Thriving in an Imbalanced World' organised by CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) here.

Lauding Tendulkar on his historic feat, he said, "A classic example for thriving in imbalanced world is Sachin Tendulkar. In 1989, when I was the captain, he was just 16 years old..... making a debut in Pakistan against Pakistan.

And there was Imran Khan, Wasim Akram.... You call that a balanced world?"

"In his first match, he gets it on his mouth, bleeds through his mouth. He does not go back. Then, he continues to play. Then, he continues, continues, continues and (is still) continuing!" he said.

Describing the challenges Tendulkar had to go through, Srikkanth said he had scored against Australia, South Africa, England and West Indies under various conditions,"all imbalanced conditions" ranging from turning wickets in India, seaming and bouncy tracks in England and Australia besides West Indian fast bowlers.

Tendulkar's record is something superhuman, he said.

Critics don't need to tell me when to retire: Sachin Tendulkar

"My critics haven't taught me my cricket," Sachin Tendulkar has said in a rebuttal to those who were calling for him to retire.

Sachin said: "The day he feels "a little less passion" when walking out to bat for India, I will give up the game" adding, "critics didn't need to tell me to do so."

Tendulkar said he had played cricket because he loved to do and there was nothing better than playing for India.

"I still get goosebumps as I stand with my teammates when the national anthem is on. I still feel the same passion when I pick up my bat and go out," he said in an interview carried in the latest issue of 'Open' magazine.

"They (critics) can question but none of them have answers to their own questions. None of them has been in my predicament and it is impossible for them to understand what I have been thinking and feeling," said Tendulkar, who scored the historic 100th international ton in the Asia Cup match against Bangladesh last week.

When asked whether the final hurdle of scoring the hundredth century was the most difficult, the veteran batsman said: "There is no doubt it was. The 100th hundred was the most difficult to get. I really don't know why but it was."

"May be because it turned into a national obsession. May be because I wasn't able to escape talk of the 100th hundred and it was affecting me at a subconscious level. May be God was trying me harder," he said.

Asked whether the thought of retiring from ODI cricket had crossed his mind after India won the World Cup last year, Tendulkar said such a thought had never occurred to him.

"A number of my friends have also asked me why I didn't retire from ODI cricket after winning the world cup, they may well be right. It would indeed have been a grand exit, emotions were running high and the timing could not have been better but to be honest such a thought never occurred to me," he said.

"There's Sir Donald Bradman and Sir Garfield Sobers, two of the greatest ever cricketers to have played the game. In my time, there have been Brian Lara, Shane Warne, Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting, Rahul Dravid. Each of them is a great player," Tendulkar said.

"The one thing my journey has taught me is that however good you are and however talented you are, you have to be ready to grind it out in times of difficulty. You must be prepared to work hard. Keep working hard. And harder.

"There was never and never be a shortcut to success and it is important to know this and pursue your dream with passion, determination and intensity. That has been my belief right through my career," he said.

Tendulkar said he wanted to see India playing well in Tests and be a part in the resurgence.

"I want to see India start playing well in Test matches and I would want to play a part in the resurgence. We played very good Test cricket for five to six year before we lost the series to England and subsequently to Australia.

"I can tell you losses hurt, they hurt really badly. The entire team is keen to stage a turnaround and give fans a lot more to cheer about when we play England in October/November this year. It is important to overcome the really bad phase and move on and I want to do my bit to ensure that Indian Test cricket is back on track," he explained.

Even after scoring 99 tons, scoring another one wasn't easy: Sachin Tendulkar

Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who returned from Dhaka on Wednesday after India's exit from the Asia Cup, said that although the pressure of scoring the hundredth ton is off, it was not easy for him to get it despite scoring 99 centuries.

"The pressure is off. It was a difficult phase and all of us had to wait for it for a long time. But it has made everyone realise, including me, that even after scoring 99 hundreds to score another one is not easy," Tendulkar said.

"Let's look forward to the next season. This season is over and I look forward to the next season," he added.

Sachin also praised Virat Kohli, who scored two centuries in the Asia Cup which include his 183 against Pakistan, but requested everyone not to pressurise him with expectations.

"I think he is a very good player. He is a brilliant player. He has done well but all I can say is don't put pressure on him. Let him play freely," he said.

He also had a word of praise for Rohit Sharma. "Rohit also batted really well. He showed a lot of composure and the way he built that partnership with Virat was really important for all of us. That partnership happened at a critical moment."

On India's exit from the Asia Cup, Tendulkar said: "We go out to win every match and sometimes it's not possible to win every match and sometimes the opposition plays better cricket than you and that is what happened. I would not want to take the credit away from them. I think they played well."

When asked if the luck didn't favour India despite beating the two stronger teams, he said: "I think overall it was good cricket but all three teams that won they have won two matches each so it's been a competitive tournament."

Humble Sachin Tendulkar still my favourite cricketer: Javed Miandad

Sachin Tendulkar's phenomenal feat of scoring 100 international centuries is unlikely to be ever broken as no other contemporary player has the calibre and the amazing fitness to play the game for more than two decades.

Ever since I saw Sachin make his debut against us, some 23 years back, I knew that he was someone destined for greater things. I have never seen anyone so devoted to the game and so hungry to score runs. So this incredible feat could have only been achieved by Sachin.

I don't think anyone needs to sing praises for Sachin, his performance speaks volumes. The way he has been performing all these years is simply amazing and is a feat of devotion, patience and super fitness.

Friday was a big day for me as a cricketer. The moment Sachin reached the milestone of scoring his 100th international century it appeared to me as if someone very dear to me had achieved this feat.

He is one of the most humble and gentleman personalities I have met in my life. My father always used to say "You give respect you get respect". To me Sachin has followed this saying to the hilt. And that is the major reason today he is at the pinnacle of his career.

But this man has not reached these dizzy heights of fame by just showing or giving respect. To me, technically he is one of the best timers in the game with a solid temperament.

Myself, Vivian Richards, Ian Chappell and many others were always keen to improvise our batting. Sachin is one of the most orthodox batsmen I have come across. His temperament is the same whether he is batting on 0, 50 or on 100 and that is what sets him apart from other great batsmen.

In 1989 India was due to tour Pakistan and we kept on hearing about this boy who had scored a triple century in India. He came and played against the likes of Wasim, Imran and Qadir and even got hit in Karachi but as far as I was concerned he was someone destined for great things.

So it doesn't surprise me that today he is the only player to have scored 100 international centuries.

Since his debut there were numerous occasions in Pakistan, India, Sharjah, Australia and England when I came across him and what impressed me the most was that every time he showed the same respect and displayed the same hunger to learn and improve that he had on his first day in Test cricket.

Over the years whenever we came across each other either in whatever role Sachin was always keen to learn and talk about cricket.

This is a trait I have found in many of the great Indian cricketers I have played against. They all want to learn from you and they give a lot of respect.

Once it was in England myself, Viv Richards an Indian friend of mine Sunil went to Lords to watch the Indian team practice and as soon as we entered the nets area, Sachin, Dravid and others wasted no time in coming to us and acknowledging our presence or discussing cricket with us.

To me Sachin has been one of the most devoted cricketers I have come across. I have never seen anyone devote so much time to cricket than Sachin.

People like to talk about him and compare him with other greats but my reasoning is simple every era has been different because cricket has changed in every decade.

What makes Sachin great is that he has just not scored runs in the sub-continent but all over the world. I watched his double hundred at Sydney and it was one of the best innings I have seen from a batsman from the sub-continent on Australian pitches.
His devotion and hunger for the game is something others can learn a lot from.

Main reason I think today he has played for so long and reached this milestone is because he has always preferred to bat in the top order and when India started playing lot of One-day internationals he immediately promoted himself to open the innings.

That is what makes a player great. The eagerness to play as many overs as possible when one gets the chance. I don't think it would have been possible for Sachin to score 100 international hundreds if he had not decided he would open in ODIs. This has given him the chance to play long innings and maximum overs.

More importantly his humble nature and the fact that his long career has largely been free of controversies have made him an idol in India.

Just how dear he is to the Indian people became clear to us in 1999 in that Kolkata Test when in a freak accident he got run out and the reaction that followed made it clear to us just how revered he is in India.

But even after that incident Sachin remained Sachin and that is why he remains my favorite cricketer. I don't see his record being broken in the near future and if anyone is going to do it he has to play continuously for 15 to 20 years and keep on batting up the order and that is a tall order despite so much cricket being played these days.

Well done Sachin, you deserve all this respect and praise.

Let Sachin enjoy the moment, stop retirement talks: Shane Warne

Australian spin legend Shane Warne pleaded for an end to the talk of Sachin Tendulkar's retirement as he joined the international chorus of appreciation for the iconic Indian cricketer who scripted history by completing a century of international tons.


Apart from his close friend Warne, cricket legends such as Sir Vivian Richards, former Australian captain Ian Chappell, Ian Botham, Rahul Dravid, Keven Pietersen and Tony Greig were among those who paid glowing tributes to the champion batsman.

"Congrats to Sachin on reaching his 100th international 100 - just awesome buddy. Please press no retirement Q'S and let Sachin enjoy the moment," Warne tweeted after Tendulkar reached the milestone against Bangladesh in an Asia Cup match in Mirpur on Friday.

The 114-run knock ended a year-long wait for the 38-year-old star batsman, whose 99th ton came during a World Cup match against South Africa in March 2011.

Tributes continued to pour in for the veteran from other parts of the world as well with former England captain Tony Greig calling him a fine ambassador of the game.

"Just woke up to the wonderful news that Sachin has made that century. Great player and wonderful ambassador for our great game," he said.

"Well played Sachin the little master...!!!" added legendary all-rounder Ian Botham.

England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who is in Sri Lanka for a series, said the effort was way beyond imagination.

"Seriously has anyone actually thought about what Sachin has done here?? 100 100's!!!! Absolutely unbelievable.. Batters dream!" he said.

Tendulkar's former teammate and the recently-retired Rahul Dravid marvelled at his genius.

"What stands out in an exceptional career of unbelievable achievements is Sachin Tendulkar's ability to change, adapt and mould his batting according to the conditions around him. What makes him a phenomenal player is that he has done so many things, be it scoring the highest number of Test and one-day runs or scoring a century of international centuries," he said.

"What he has done is set a benchmark for future generations which, probably, would be almost impossible for anyone to emulate. He has created a new milestone, which to my mind, is like Don Bradman's average of 99.94, the most memorable feat that any cricketer has achieved.

"Like overtaking Bradman's average appears almost impossible today, Sachin's century feat too will in all probability stay forever," he added.

Similar words of appreciation came from former Australian captain Ian Chappell.

"The skill, the tenacity and the competitive urge still flows freely through the veins of Tendulkar. He seemed destined to conquer the batting Mount Everest from the moment it was said about him as at the age of 17, Tendulkar scored his first Test century at Old Trafford," he said.

"The fact that Tendulkar has handled fame so well and maintained an attacking outlook throughout is a tribute to not only his skill but also his wonderfully alert mind.

"Considering the length of his career and the fact that he was able to renew his attacking desires, I would now rate Tendulkar slightly ahead of Brian Lara and comfortably in front of a fading Ricky Ponting."

West Indies legend Viv Richards described Tendulkar as a "genius" when it comes to ability and a "Trojan" when it came to work ethics.

"I believe Sir Donald Bradman is the greatest of them all, but seeing Tendulkar bat, I can say that when he is in top flight, in a variety of conditions, I have seen the best.

"He has been a genius when it comes to ability, a Trojan when it comes to work ethic and manic when it comes to his focus. Yet we often miss the little things that make him both human and exceptional", Richards said.

"As a sportsman, I know how damaging an injury can be. For a batsman, an elbow injury and corrective surgery could be akin to a professional death knell. But the way Sachin overcame those setbacks and played at the highest level with unmatched distinction is special", he said.

Richards felt Tendulkar has earned the right to decide when to hang his boots.

"Friday's century was a testimony to Sachin Tendulkar's self belief and his unwavering focus. Many of his contemporaries who were spoken of in the same breath did not have the hunger and focus, which is why Sachin stands alone at the summit.

"And let it not be forgotten that he is no dour batsman, he still plays thrilling shots and has entertained more fans than any batsman has in the history of the game. All this with humility, bearing the burden of his team's batting and the expectations of his millions of fans," he said.

"I think Sachin has earned the right to decide when exactly he wants to put down his bat. He is mature and sensible individual and more importantly a very proud cricketer. He is not going to continue if he feels he is not performing up to his standards," he added.

Veteran Indian tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi also took to Twitter to appreciate Tendulkar's feat.

"...I guess chant today goes Sacccchiiiinnnn, Sachhhhhhiiiinnn.. Hmmm I have been chanting that for twenty years."

England Test captain Andrew Strauss also congratulated Tendulkar for reaching a milestone that might remain unsurpassed.

"Sachin is a player by which all others are measured over the last 10-15 years, and for him to go out and get a hundred hundreds is an amazing achievement without precedent - it's unlikely to be achieved again,"

Former England captain Nasser Hussain said even if the 100th ton had not come about, Tendulkar would still have remained a great player.

"Don Bradman is sometimes remembered, unfairly, as the batsman who did not quite average 100 in Test cricket. And there was a danger, as we all waited for Sachin Tendulkar to reach three figures again, that he would be remembered for the one international century he did not score, rather than the 99 he did. That would have been a shame - and completely unjust," he said.

"You could tell after he tucked that single off his pads on Friday in Dhaka how much it meant to him. He's been criticised in the past for being a closed book, a guy who doesn't show his feelings too easily. But you could see the more human side of him after he took his helmet off to celebrate," he added.

"...he's done it and no one can ever take the achievement away. Finally, he can move on. The mother of all monkeys has been removed."

100th hundred the toughest of them all - Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar has said his 100th international hundred "was the toughest of them all", after achieving the milestone against Bangladesh, in Mirpur, during the Asia Cup. Tendulkar went 33 innings without a century between India's group match against South Africa in the World Cup and Friday's game in Mirpur, and admitted it had been a "tough phase". He said he had not really started thinking about the 100th hundred until the media began to talk about it, but it had started to play on his mind after a while.

"Yes, I have to be honest. I am human and I have emotions so I was frustrated. It does play on your mind," Tendulkar said at the post-match press conference.

During the mid-innings break, he had explained to television commentator Ramiz Raja how he had not been able to get away from talk about his 100th hundred. "It's been a tough phase for me. I started off the season batting reasonably well. I was luckless. I am not playing only for my 100th hundred. It doesn't matter how many hundreds you score, you still put your head down, grind it out and do the job for the team.

"I was not thinking about the milestone, the media started all this; wherever I went, the restaurant, room service, everyone was talking about the 100th hundred. Nobody talked about my 99 hundreds. It became mentally tough for me because nobody talked about my 99 hundreds."

Despite the struggle to get to his 100th hundred and the pressure that that had built up around it, Tendulkar was able to joke about having finally achieved it, saying he had shed "50 kilos" with the 114 he made on Friday.

Tendulkar took 36 balls to go from 80 to 100 in Mirpur, but insisted he was not playing for the record. "The hundred was not the only thing on my mind. I was thinking about getting a good total for the team. When I looked at the scoreboard, I was looking at the run-rate and what we needed to do; I was avoiding looking at my personal score."

The wait for the milestone, Tendulkar said, had made him realise the value of an international century, while the varying opinions on whether or not he should continue his pursuit had not affected him. "After scoring 99 tons you are made to realise the value of a hundred. It's not easy, it was a testing period, but there were many people who helped me.

"There are opinions, some for some against. I don't read them, I have a job to do. Ups and downs are a part of life, there is no person who has not experienced it, and they teach you a lot in life.

"I am glad about the journey. It has tested my patience, my character. So many people have had questions, I don't read any of them. Somebody who has not gone through this will have only questions, not answers."

When asked about what lay ahead, Tendulkar was firm that he was not yet considering retirement, in fact mentioning that he was glad the milestone was "out of the way, so I can focus on the matches now".

"When I consider retirement, don't worry, I will not hide it from anyone. I will play as long as I am enjoying it and as long as I can contribute to the team. I don't play for milestones; that is a perception created by a few members of the media. I play cricket because I enjoy it."

In the mid-innings break, when Ramiz asked Tendulkar what message he wanted to send to youngsters who witnessed him make history, Tendulkar said it was important to never give up on chasing your dreams. "Enjoy the game and chase your dreams," he said. "Dreams do come true. I had to wait for 22 years for India to win the World Cup."

I have scored 100 out of 100 in terms of commitment: Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar may have had to wait close to a year to achieve the historic feat of scoring 100 international centuries but the delay was certainly not due to any lack of effort, with the star batsman giving himself a mark of "100 out of 100" in terms of effort and commitment.

"There is one thing I can put my hand up and say that I am 100 percent sure about my effort and commitment. If they were lacking, then there would have been a question mark but in those areas in my book, I scored a 100 out of 100," Tendulkar told reporters on Saturday.

The 38-year-old batsman said he was sure that the 100th century would come and it was just a matter of not taking things for granted.

"It is all about belief. I knew it will come but it was important that you don`t take things for granted and keep working the way you usually do. Scoring runs and not scoring runs will always come across and it is part of a career and you can experience that when you have played long enough.

"I was pretty confident about what I was doing and the technique was right and I had the right people around me and I want to thank them," the legendary batsman said.

Tendulkar said that at one level, he could find a connect with Roger Federer considering the his wait for the World Cup was just like tennis legend`s wait for his elusive French Open title.

"I don`t know obviously what Federer had gone through but I am sure it was tough. I would not compare my 100th century with the French Open, rather it would be the World Cup. I had to wait 22 years and that wait was much longer."

After completing his century, it was a sense of relief for Tendulkar for achieving a feat that could remain unconquered for years to come.

"I have to admit I was relieved. This is now out of the way and I can start a new chapter. It was possibly the toughest phase of my life. There was so much hype and attention about the 100th hundred. "I thought I possibly batted the best in my life, got close in a couple of games but I couldn’t achieve that. There are no specific reasons for that. At times I was luckless. Sometimes you need to have luck on your side to cross the final hurdle," Tendulkar said.

The iconic batsman said that he wished he had "somebody to guide him" about the anticipation and subsequent disappointment that was attached each time he failed to get past the three-figure mark in recent times.

"This anticipation and disappointment when I didn`t get was way too greater than anything else. I don`t know how to explain this to you. I wish there was someone to guide me, about how to deal with this. I am not complaining but it happened for the first time and I don`t know how to explain this. It has been a tough journey," he said.

A devoted family man, Tendulkar felt that his family and close group of friends have been the pillar of strength for him.

"My family and friends stood right behind me, with me and I could speak my mind with them. I could explain my frustrations to them. I could express my joy with them, the happiness that I couldn`t score a hundred but I still could bat well and that is a positive thing and that I am doing something important for the team."

"In Delhi, I went in to bat in the second innings and it was a critical phase and we won that game but people were only talking about how I missed my hundred. Which ever be the manner, they were disappointed.

"So that is something which was always spoken about and it is something that a sportsman doesn`t want. He just wants to enjoy his game and the success of having done well for the team and also doing well."

Asked about some of his favourite centuries, he doesn`t take much time to answer "Perth." He had scored 114 at Perth in 1992.

"Something that means a lot to me is the hundred at Chennai (against England) in 2008. That was really really important to me because of what had happened before that (26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai). Then, the first 100 (at Manchester), 136 in Chennai (against Pakistan) and 241 against Australia at Sydney."

Tendulkar also talked about his kids Sara and Arjun, saying it was important that they lead a normal childhood.

"With Arjun and Sara, it`s important that they lead a normal childhood and not surrounded by the media all the time. It`s alright to get that when he is matured enough to handle that.

"But right now, he is madly in love with cricket and with all this attention and pressure it shouldn`t be such that he starts hating all this. I feel it has to grow on him and there is time and occasion for him to get that. He should have the freedom to express himself as a person," he said.

His highest Test score of 248 is incidentally against Bangladesh and Tendulkar recalled a funny anecdote from that particular innings.

"Possibly the funniest incident of my life took place in that match. I was batting with Anil and while taking a run and passing him, I told him "keep an eye on the second run." And while taking the second one, I saw that the throw was good and I stopped and Anil ran, and the keeper missed.

"I returned to my crease but because I was going for the second run, Anil kept running. Twice, we actually ran in the same direction and on atleast three occasions, we were about to get out but we did not and we had a good laugh."

A teamman to the core, Sachin did not forget to thank the support staff (physios, masseurs, trainers) who had a role in keeping him fit.

"Without the physios and masseurs, life would be really difficult. I like to thank all the phsyios, doctors, the masseurs who helped me, when I was in desperate need. There are a lot of things which happen outside the field and that helps you prepare for the match. I like to thank them. Whatever happens behind the scenes is never discussed but they are equally a part of my success", he added.

Sachin scripts history by scoring 100 international centuries

Sachin Tendulkar has written history by scoring a brilliant century to become the first player to score 100 international centuries.

Tendulkar achieved his long awaited century in the ongoing match against Bangladesh in Asia Cup being held at Dhaka. This is his 49th century in one day cricket.

The anxious wait of millions of cricket fans from India and all over the world has finally ended as Sachin completed his century of centuries by taking a single off Shakib Al Hasan against Bangladesh.
Bat in one hand and helmet in the other, the God of Indian cricket looked up in a gesture to thank his own gods as his team mates and cricket fans in the Sher -E-Bangla stadium celebrated his extra-ordinary feat.

Tendulkar’s record setting century which incidentally was the first ODI hundred against Bangladesh came in 138 balls which included 10 fours and one sixes. This was his 49th ODI century and along with his 51 Test centuries, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is now the only player in the world to have scored a century of centuries - a record which any present or future cricketers may never ever break.

Ex-Bangladesh captain prays for Sachin Tendulkar's Asia Cup century

Sachin Tendulkar's fans are not just confined to India. There are many in Bangladesh too and both youngsters and elderly people here are praying and looking forward to the maestro scoring his 100th international century during the Asia Cup beginning here on Sunday.

Former Bangladesh captain Akram Khan, now chairman of the selection committee, is among those eagerly awaiting the Mumbaikar to unleash his batting prowess, entertain and notch up his much sought after 100th hundred.

"Sachin is an icon player. He can get it anytime. I am surprised that in the last one year he didn't get a century. I hope and I am praying that he gets his 100th century as soon as possible,"

Khan still gets excited recalling the time he played against Tendulkar in the Asia Cup when it was held in India in 1990-91. He is such a hardcore Tendulkar fan that he doesn't even want to say anything that is remotely adverse.

"I don't want to say anything (negative) about Sachin because he is an extraordinary player. It's not good to say such things about him (that he's under pressure). Yes, pressure is at every level, even in school cricket there is pressure," he said.

"But he has proved his class and has performed for more than 100 crore people (Indians). It (pressure) is nothing new for him, because he's always playing under pressure."

Akram, now a successful businessman, disclosed that he has watched every match since Tendulkar scored his last international century, against South Africa during the World Cup in Nagpur in March last year.

"For the last one year, I have been watching every match of his because, personally, I would like to see him score his 100th century, and I am sure all Bangladeshis are also excited about his impending 100th century," he said.

"I first played with Sachin in the Asia Cup in Chennai in the 1990s. It was my dream to play against him. I am very excited to see him score his 100th international century, and am eagerly waiting for that."

Khan said that the poor patch of the Indian team was not a cause for worry and hoped soon it would regain form. "They are one of the best teams. Six months back they were the world No. 1 Test team and became world one-day champions last year. I think this is happening everywhere. India play very well in Asia and I hope they will play well over here."

No tribute is enough for Dravid: Tendulkar

India's batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has said no tribute can be enough for his teammate Rahul Dravid, who is expected to announce his retirement from international cricket Friday.

"I have shared my best moments with Rahul Dravid. No tribute can be enough for him," Tendulkar, who is four months younger to Dravid.

Tendulkar said he will be missing Dravid, who made his international debut five years after the batting maestro donned the India jersey.

"For me there's only one Dravid. I will miss him in the dressing room and on the field," he said.

Dravid is the second highest run scorer in Test cricket after Tendulkar. They both have captained the national team and were the safest pair of hands in the slip cordon in the last decade.