Photos : Sachin Tendulkar With Anjali Tendulkar & Aamir Khan | 'Real Heroes Awards

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Indian Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, Ambani's wife Nita, and Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar al attended  the Reliance Foundation's 'Real Heroes Awards' ceremony in Mumbai on March 24, 2012. Picture Courtesy : Getty Images, PTI & NDTV

© PTI

© PTI

© PTI

Aamir Khan (L) and Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar  © Getty Images

Indian cricket player Sachin Tendulkar (L) with wife Anjali © Getty Images

Mukesh Ambani (R) and wife Nita (C) interact with Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar © Getty Images

Mukesh Ambani, Aamir Khan, Ambani's wife Nita, and Sachin Tendulkar © Getty Images

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Sachin Tendulkar's achievement something superhuman: Srikkanth

Praising batting ace Sachin Tendulkar, Selection Committee Chairman Krishnamachari Srikkanth on Saturday 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).

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. On India's recent disastrous tour down under, he defended his decision to play Virat Kohli in the test matches. He said after Sydney, people were saying Kohli was not fit for test cricket.

"..but what happened later? the next match he got 75, next Test he got a 100," Srikkanth said, adding, he became the highest run-getter in the series. He also became the highest run-getter in the one-dayers, he added. Observing that the game had such large following in the country, Srikkanth said each one (in the hall) was thinking they are like Tendulkar, captain, and chairman of selectors. "That is the problem. That is why the game will never die in India.

© Times of India

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Photos : Sachin Tendulkar at Siddhivinayak Temple - March 23, 2012

ZEE NEWS : Back home after scoring his 100th international century, senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar was spotted at the famous Siddhi Vinayak temple at Dadar on Friday morning offering prayers on the occasion of Gudi Padwa, the beginning of Hindu New Year.Relieved after completing the much awaited feat - which took him more than a year to complete - Sachin thanked God for his achievement.

Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar had ended the speculations on his retirement rumours saying he will give up only on the day when he feels a little less passion towards the game. He added he had played cricket because he loved to do and there was nothing better than playing for India.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." Complete Gallery of Sachin Tendulkar at Siddhivinayak Temple.

Pics Courtesy : IndiatvNews

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Sachin Tendulkar's adaptability hallmark of a great player: Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble paid glowing tributes to Sachin Tendulkar for achieving the historic feat of scoring 100 international centuries, saying he could quickly adapt to different conditions which was the hallmark of a great player."The brilliant thing about Sachin is his adaptability. He could quickly adapt in any given condition. That's the hallmark of a great player.
 
"I have been a witness to 80 of those 100 hundreds and at least on 20 occasions, I have been at the other end. I would invariably arrive when he would be in his 80's and the second new-ball would be due. My job on each and every occasion was to ensure that I don't give my wicket easily which would help him to get his hundred."
 
Tendulkar after completing his 100th ton had recollected a funny incident during his highest Test score of 248 in Bangladesh involving him and Kumble when both had some horrible mix-ups."Don't talk about it. I still get embarrassed when I watch the footages of that match," he smiled.For Kumble, one memorable incident was Tendulkar's maiden Test hundred at Old Trafford in 1990 which was incidentally his debut Test.
 
"I was made to stand at the Old Trafford balcony for more than three hours as it was Kiran More's diktat. Since Sachin was scoring runs and we were playing to save the Test, everyone got superstitious. It was difficult standing there for two hours, but I was instructed by Kiran to stand at the same position for hours. Only during tea break did I get a chance to sit," he said.
 

"Obviously, the 242 at Sydney was another Herculean effort where he didn't hit a single cover drive till he reached 200. The 100 against Pakistan and the 155 against Australia (both in Chennai) where Shane Warne was bowling from round the wicket were some of the knocks I would never forget."For someone, who has close to 1000 international wickets, (619 Tests and 337 in ODIs) the longer version still remains a priority.
 
"If you are able to consistently perform in longer version, that performance would help you do well in T20s and One-days but it's never the other way round," he explained.Talking about young leggie Rahul Sharma, who has travelled with the Indian team for last six months having played only five games (3 ODIs and 2 T20s), Kumble said it was a tricky situation.
 
"It's again the 'chicken and egg' theory. You need to bowl lot of overs in matches but again you need to pick your best squad. Ideally, it would have been great had Rahul played a few first-class matches but problem nowadays is lack of tour games. When I went to England in 1990, we had nine first-class tour games apart from 2 ODIs and 3 Tests. Everyone got a chance which is not the case now.

 

Video Highlights : All 100 Centuries of Sachin Tendulkar

Pictures : All 100 Centuries of Sachin Tendulkar

Complete Picture Gallery : Nation Celebrates Sachin's 100th Ton

Sachin Tendulkar's 100th Ton vs bangladesh in Pictures

"Thankfully, the players during international matches at home are released to play Ranji Trophy. That's how likes of Ajinkya (Rahane) and Rohit (Sharma) got to play for Mumbai."Kumble was reluctant to talk about his brief one-year stint as the chairman of National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. He resigned from the post in December last year
 
"I don't want to talk about that phase. I wanted to do a few things but we were not on the same page but NCA has done a lot of good for Indian cricket. It's because of NCA that we have brilliant fielders like Virat, Suresh Raina, Manoj Tiwary to name a few."The BCCI wants Ranji Trophy matches to be played at neutral venues but Kumble for one wants cricket to be shifted to smaller centres which will produce good competitive wickets.
 
"Recently during a one-day match Goa and Karnataka, I entered the stadium at around 11:30 and saw 55 for two on board. I thought match must have started late and then realised it was over. Just because it was a bit more challenging surface, batsmen couldn't cope with it."Now if you produce a turning track and match is over within two days, people raise questions. But what about the batsmen's ability to face quality spinners on turning tracks," he concluded.

© PTI

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Tendulkar and Dravid brilliant, great guys off the field: Lee

Tendulkar and Dravid brilliant, great guys off the field: LeeAustralian pacer Brett Lee has paid rich tributes to retired Rahul Dravid and iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar, describing them as "brilliant cricketers and extremely great guys off the field."Lee feels Dravid, who recently retired from international cricket, is an excellent player and he would be missed by his fans across the world.

The last week has been huge for Indian cricket with two important events, Rahul Dravid retiring from international cricket and Sachin Tendulkar scoring his 100th international century," Lee wrote in his blog on www.castrolcricket.com."They are both brilliant cricketers and are extremely great guys off the field as well. I have a lot of respect for Dravid, he is an excellent cricketer and I have had a good time playing against him.

"It is obviously sad that he is leaving and the fans are going to miss watching him. I'll certainly miss playing against him," he said.The 35-year-old speedster from New South Wales also showered praise on Tendulkar and said: "It is amazing! Almost unbelievable that he has scored a hundred international centuries!

Video Highlights : All 100 Centuries of Sachin Tendulkar

Pictures : All 100 Centuries of Sachin Tendulkar

Complete Picture Gallery : Nation Celebrates Sachin's 100th Ton

Sachin Tendulkar's 100th Ton vs bangladesh in Pictures

"It's hard to believe some of the things he has achieved. He is in a class of his own, and he deserves every accolade that comes his way. A truly world class player!," he added.Dravid, the second most prolific batsman in the game's history and India's middle order bulwark for years, bid adieu to a 16-year-old international cricket earlier this month.Tendulkar had achieved the milestone of scoring 100 international centuries when he blasted 114 against Bangladesh in the just-concluded Asia Cup.

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Sachin not only breaks records, he creates them : Robin Uthappa

Comeback man Robin Uthappa was effusive in praise for Sachin Tendulkar saying no one barring the maestro could have achieved the landmark of 100 international centuries.
 
"If one man could do it, it could be only him. I don't think there will be another person who will achieve that milestone. 'Paaji' obviously has etched himself in the history books in many ways. This is another record he has created. To me he does not break records, just creates them nowadays."Uthappa believes he has learned a lot during his absence from the Indian team's ranks and said that he was not looking too far ahead in his on-off international career.
 
"I enjoy playing cricket. It feels good to be back in the side after the one-off game against England in October, to be back in the midst of things. I am taking it one game at a time. It's a great opportunity and am looking forward to it," said the 26-year-old hard-hitting batsman about his recall to the national team led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.Uthappa is the only change in the Asia Cup squad led by Dhoni at Dhaka in place of Sachin Tendulkar for the one-off T20 International against South Africa to be played at Johannesburg on March 30.
 
"It's a one-way journey where you learn a lot along the way. I certainly have had a lot of learning, am looking forward to playing international cricket again," said the batsman who has kept wickets in junior cricket."It requires a lot of hard work (to make a comeback). You need to learn and understand about yourself a little more.Need to know what works for you and trust your instinct and routine so much more, back yourself so much more," he said.
 
"I was a very raw player when I played initially for the country (in 2006 when he made his ODI debut against England at Indore). Domestic cricket has been a big boon for me. Even IPL has been great, a place where I have learnt a lot about myself, what works for me as an individual, as a batsman as an athlete. That has been the learning for me over the last three years," he added.
 

Uthappa, here to lead Karnataka in the domestic T20 championship for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, said he had learned a lot about batting from the retired Rahul Dravid, with whom he had shared the dressing room a lot when playing Ranji Trophy.

 

Video Highlights : All 100 Centuries of Sachin Tendulkar

Pictures : All 100 Centuries of Sachin Tendulkar

Complete Picture Gallery : Nation Celebrates Sachin's 100th Ton

Sachin Tendulkar's 100th Ton vs bangladesh in Pictures

"It's a void not many people can fill. Rahul was an institution ... his dedication, hard work, the way he played, the way he handled himself, the kind of cricketer he was. As a person who has watched him from close quarters ... I played with him from a very young age 17 or 18 and played more with him in the last 8-9 years ... watching him in itself is a learning.
 
"We have played lot of Ranji Trophy cricket together over the last 4-5 years. I had so much to learn from him during that time and having his inputs and having him around with us was a big plus. We certainly are going to miss him a lot. I learned more about batting from him."He also wished Yuvraj Singh, his Pune Warriors teammate and captain, a speedy recovery from his illness.
"I would like Yuvi to come back in the best of health.
 
Besides playing cricket there are other things that are more important in life. At the end of the day this is just a game, but his health is more important. I wish him a speedy recovery. Just to be back in top health would be priority.To me as a friend, as a colleague and as someone who has played with him...to see him come out of that ailment hale and hearty, to have him alive and kicking ... would be more than anything else." Yuvraj has undergone chemotherapy for a rare germ cell cancer in the USA.

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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. The day he feels "a little less passion" when walking out to bat for India, "I will give up the game", the master batsman said, 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.

© Times of India

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