100th ton "just a number" for Sachin Tendulkar

Indian star Sachin Tendulkar says he is not weighed down by expectations over his 100th century as he headed home to Mumbai for next week's final Test against the West Indies.

As millions of fans wait for him to become the first batsman in history to score a century of international hundreds, the 38-year-old appeared unruffled by the hype around the landmark.

"I feel it is just a number," the most successful batsman in both Test and one-day cricket, told on Friday.

"I am not thinking about it. I am thinking about playing good cricket. I am enjoying my game."

Fans hope he will attain the feat on his home ground at the Wankhede stadium when the Test starts on Tuesday, but Tendulkar said he could not understand what the fuss was all about.

"When I got my 90th international century, nobody said anything," he told the paper. "Even before my 99th century, nobody said anything. So why now? I don't understand.

"I know everyone is talking and thinking about my 100th century. I want to be relaxed and let cricket decide its own course. I am not rushing into anything, just concentrating my normal game."

Tendulkar has now gone four one-day internationals and six Tests without a century since slamming his 99th ton during a World Cup match against South Africa in Nagpur in March.

He came close to the milestone thrice when he scored 85 in the World Cup semi-final against Pakistan, 91 in the Oval Test against England in August and 76 in the first Test of the ongoing series against the West Indies in New Delhi.

Tendulkar said he was more excited about completing 22 years at the top level since his international debut in a Test match against Pakistan in Karachi on November 15, 1989.

"It's a wonderful feeling," "It gives me immense pleasure and terrific satisfaction that I've been able to serve my country for such a long time."

Tendulkar has scored 15,086 runs in 183 Tests with 51 centuries, and 18,111 runs in 453 one-day internationals with 48 hundreds.

Sachin Tendulkar can hit his 100th ton anytime, feels Suresh Raina

India’s aggressive batsman, Suresh Raina, has played down the hype of Sachin Tendulkar’s much-anticipated 100th International century, and said that the Master Blaster is well capable of hitting his elusive ton anytime.

In his interview, Raina disclosed that Tendulkar is not bothered about his historic ton, as the Little Master just concentrates on his game, not records.

“I feel that the best thing about Sachin is that he enjoys the success of others. That makes him all the more special for all of us,” said Raina who is not a part of India’s Test side currently engaged in the three-match series against West Indies.

The baby faced cricketer also lauded senior players such as,Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Tendulkar for their support and help for the newcomers.

After 100th ton, Sachin Tendulkar to donate bat to Eden Gardens

Batting genius Sachin Tendulkar has promised to donate the bat with which he scores his 100th international century to the proposed cricket museum at the Eden Gardens, a Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) official claimed Thursday.

"Sachin has told us that he would donate the bat with which he scores his 100th international hundred to the cricket museum," CAB joint secretary Biswarup Dey told mediapersons here.

Tendulkar also donated his gloves and a national team jersey after the Mahendra Singh Dhoni led side defeated the West Indies at the Eden Gardens Thursday to record India's 75th Test win on home soil.

Dhoni also gifted the CAB the bat with which he struck a hundred in the second Test that ended here in a thumping innings and 15 run win for India.

Keeping in mind the milestone of the 75th win, the CAB had requested the Indian team to donate some memorabilia like their cricketing gear.

The equipment will be displayed in the "India's 75th Test win at Home" sectionof the museum.

Sachin Tendulkar becomes the highest run-scorer in the fourth innings of Tests

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar keeps scoring runs at a pace wherein it looks like the record books are running out of pages listing the ones created by the master blaster.

The ‘run machine’ has not yet reached the much-awaited milestone of 100 international centuries, a territory no other cricketer has not yet conquered. But he treated the spectators with yet another feather on his cap by becoming the highest run-getter in fourth innings of Test matches. He went past Rahul Dravid's tally of 1507 runs during the first Test against West Indies recently at an average of 39.86.

The wait for the 100th century stretches back to the World Cup in April, but Sachin fell short of the feat once again by making 76 in the second innings of the Kotla Test. Meanwhile, he completed 15000 runs in Test cricket.

Sachin has scored 51 centuries in Tests and 48 in one-dayers.

Also, he created a record for aggregating most runs in the fourth innings in Tests at an average of 39.86, going past Rahul Dravid's tally of 1507 runs during the first Test against West Indies recently.

Other active members on the list include Rahul Dravid, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ricky Ponting and Graeme Smith. Tendulkar also became the highest run-getter at the Feroz Shah Kotla, going past Dilip Vengsarkar.

Sachin Tendulkar hits 15,000 Test runs

Sachin Tendulkar of India on Tuesday became the first batsman in history to score 15,000 Test runs.

Tendulkar, 38, achieved the feat when he reached 28 on the third day of the first Test against the West Indies at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi.

Tendulkar was unbeaten on 33 and Rahul Dravid was on 30 as India - set a victory target of 276 - reached 152-2 by stumps.

The Mumbai batsman, playing his 182nd Test match, already holds the world record for most runs and centuries in both Test and one-day cricket.

Tendulkar needs one more three-figure knock to become the first batsman to score 100 international hundreds. He has 51 Test and 48 one-day centuries so far.

Dravid is second in the Test scorers list with 12,859 runs, ahead of Ricky Ponting of Australia (12,487) and West Indian Brian Lara (11,953).

Top run-getters in Test cricket (minimum 10,000 runs)

1. 15,005 - Sachin Tendulkar (IND)

2. 12,859 - Rahul Dravid (IND)

3. 12,487 - Ricky Ponting (AUS)

4. 11,953 - Brian Lara (WIS)

5. 11,947 - Jacques Kallis (RSA)

6. 11,174 - Allan Border (AUS)

7. 10,927 - Steve Waugh (AUS)

8. 10,122 - Sunil Gavaskar (IND)