Sachin's achievements can't be measured by one award: Bhupathi

With the growing demand that Sachin Tendulkar should be bestowed with Bharat Ratna, tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi on Tuesday said the cricket maestro is above all these awards.

Here in the city with wife Lara Dutta, Bhupathi said, "He is too great a person for awards. Awards come and go, that's secondary. It will not reflect his contribution to the Indian cricket."

When the doubles ace was quizzed on what keeps him going at the age of 36, he answered that he and Leander Paes still have the insatiable hunger to win.

"Our motivation is to win. We still enjoy winning... as long as the hunger there no title is out of your reach," said the winner of 11 Grand Slam titles.

Bhupathi said he along with Paes are now looking forward to Madrid Open beginning in May.

"Then we have a tournament in Rome a week later. Our preparation is going good and we are looking forward on fitness."

Asked about their goals together with Olympics next year, Bhupathi said, "Let's get ourselves picked first. Then we can think of going ahead."

He also had words of praise for Somdev Devvarman and Sania Mirza.

"Somdev is young. He has already made into the top 100 (71). At this level, he is extremely talented. We can't really put a number on him. He needs to continue with the way he is performing."

On her protege Sania, Bhupathi said, "She is doing well in singles also. I am sure her rankings will improve with more Grand Slam appearances."

Hyderabad gets ready for Tendulkar's birthday bash

Hyderabadis could not have asked for more. With another Indian Premier League (IPL) match scheduled in Hyderabad on Sunday, Uppal stadium is all set to host not only a major IPL Match, Mumbai Indian (MI) vs Deccan Chargers (DC), but also the countrys cricket sensation Sachin Tendulkar on his birthday on the same day.

Frenzied cricket fans have ensured that not a single seat of the huge Uppal stadium is currently available with the tickets sold out a week prior to the match. This will be the fourth time that the stadium would be packed to capacity (in a match not involvingIndia).

The first IPL for which Uppal stadium was chock-a-block was when Hyderabadis thronged to catch Sachin in action when MI played DC in 2008, the second houseful show was when Saurav Ganguly and Shoaib Akhtar pulled the crowds when Kolkata Knight Riders played against DC (again 2008) and the third time when the Chennai Super Kings captain and reigning superstar M S Dhoni played against the Hyderabad team the same year. Looks like its going to be a big bash at Uppal this Sunday.

Fair loo service : Speaking of the IPL, here's an intriguing anecdote shared by a spectator at the Uppal stadium of just how smitten we still are with fair skin. During last Saturdays match, a foreign couple went around looking for the washroom and when they found one, it turned out to be a men's loo, the ladies washroom located on the second floor. So, while the man took his loo break, our lady too requested the guards to be allowed to use the facility. Lo and behold, not only was she allowed to use the loo, the guards even ensured that nobody entered the mens washroom as long as the lady was inside. Now, there is nothing wrong with a little chivalry, but a curious spectator asked the guard if an Indian woman would have been given the same royal loo treatment. Well, at least the guards were honest as they mumbled a shy No. Guess they were only taking the atithi devo bhava concept a tad too seriously, or were they?

Turbulent times : Now enough has been written about fake pilots and how travellers are turning extremely suspicious of men in the cockpit. And the result of this unholy suspicion has led to air-hostesses arming themselves with more than snacks and beverages as they go around fielding questions from curious/worried passengers on pilots manning the aircraft, including their work experience, number of hours of flying apart from, of course, their designations. So after budget airlines turned the aircraft crew into vendors, as they went around selling coffees, teas and cashew nuts, the fake pilot scam has resulted in them hardselling not just sandwiches, but also bio-datas of the pilots. Travellers share that mid-air jerks and turbulence are hastily being equated with the pilots experience (or the lack of it). In one instance, a Hyderabad-bound much turbulent Sunday flight had passengers demanding to see the pilots experience certificate and even raised questions on his familiarity with various domestic sectors. Fielding all these queries were hassled crew who took great pains to explain the turbulence was due to poor weather and not of the pilots doing. The fake pilot scam may become old news after some time, but these are surely turbulent times for airline staff that has turned into a mid-air crisis management crew.

Beating the ban : For every government rule, there are a dozen ways of breaking or manoeuvring your way around them or so has been established repeatedly by the brainy citizens of the country. Turning no-parking zones into packed parking lots or the ban on public smoking going up in smoke are only minor examples of how things work despite a ban/prohibition. So it is hardly surprising that the citys junior college managements have found a way to beat the no summer classes diktat of the state government. The student-friendly policy to ensure young minds get some rest during the harsh summer months has not really yielded a relaxed vacation as summer classes have moved discreetly to districts. Parents are now renting out houses to put up their children for the vacations so that they can go for the all-important summer coaching. While the government rule applies to even districts, college managements share how vigilance in non-Hyderabad centres is not as strict as in the capital. And if its business as usual for junior colleges this summer, guess who is the unlikely beneficiary of this rule-bender? House owners in districts who are busy letting out rooms for quick bucks this summer.

Once a superstar, always a superstar : In politics, they say, there is no age for retirement and that is rather obvious in mana state or even the country with the grey-haired outnumbering the younger lot in great numbers. But it appears that even in tinsel town there is no age for actors to superannuate. And we arent really talking about Amitabh Bachchan here but many yesteryear actors who ensure they hold on to the superstardom halo they once enjoyed. Awards and titles keep the spotlight on them. A recent award ceremony had Vijayashanti win the silver screen empress honour, which was a tad strange because she is clearly nowhere among the reigning divas of today. With Secunderabad MLA Jayasudha too winning an outstanding artiste award, it possibly wasnt just films that won the two ladies the honours; the actors themselves ensure they remain star-like. So, a big fan of a long forgotten superstar narrates writing endless letters to the out-of-work actor with a simple request an autograph. Endless calls to his office, his secretary and even his driver yielded no result and the fan is still awaiting a scribble on a piece of paper.

was always fascinated by Kapil Dev and Sachin :Valthaty

Paul Valthaty would have had little idea that his life would change overnight after his breathtaking show against the Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday. The 27-year-old however doesn't want to bask in the glory of a singular performance and would like to carry on the good work.

"I will try not to get too overwhelmed by the success. I will try to see that my feet is firmly rooted," Valthaty said.

Treating himself as a "normal cricketer" from Mumbai who has faced struggle in his career, Valthaty while talking about his gem of an innings at Mohali last night, said,"This is just a small step that I have taken."

"Wearing India cap always remains a cricketer's ultimate dream, but I know there is a long journey ahead and I have just taken a small step (to realise that dream)," Valthaty told PTI in an interview here today.

Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev have been his childhood idols.

"I was always fascinated by Kapil Dev and Sachin and had a great liking for the sport from my childhood. My father used to push me a lot to play cricket," he said.

Rubbing shoulders with the likes of Indian skipper M S Dhoni and other top cricketers like Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh in the IPL is like a dream come true, feels Valthaty.

"I will have to pinch myself," he said when asked how would he feel if one day he finds batting along side Tendulkar at the other end.

"It's every cricketer's dream to play besides the master," he said.

The Mumbaikar has no first-class experience and till date has played only one List A match for Mumbai way back in 2006 while featuring in just 12 T20s.

Valthaty made his first foray in former India great Dilip Vengsarkar's academy in Mumbai. He was later picked for India U-19 squad with the likes of Irfan Pathan and Parthiv Patel that went to New Zealand for the 2002 World Cup, where he played a game against Bangladesh.

"I started my cricket 10-12 years ago and I have played ODIs and T20s for Mumbai. It was in New Zealand that I suffered an eye injury which kept me out of action for over a year," he said.

About his eye injury that could have brought an abrupt end to his career, Valthaty takes it in his stride.

"Injuries are part and parcel of a cricketer's life. I kept working hard knowing that my day will come. Yesterday was the day I have been waiting for."

While Valthaty's father is an engineer and mother a doctor, he said that it was his father who initiated him into the sport.

"My father used to push me a lot to play cricket. He is a great enthusiast of the sport. My mother too supported me. I have always got great support from my family and friends, who have been behind me through thick and thin which has motivated me to do well. Motivation has never been a problem," he said.

Valthaty said that he would like KXIP to do well in the tournament.

"We have a great captain (Adam Gilchrist). He is a good leader. We play the next game in Hyderabad and would like to win there as well. It is important for the team to do well, with a long tournament ahead," he said.

Kings XI coach Michael Bevan also heaped praise on the youngster for sterling display.

"He (Valthaty) played a high quality knock, an amazing knock. We really needed such a knock. His placement, power was terrific. He is a talented batsman, who strikes the ball beautifully," Bevan said.

He said Valthaty was a quiet character and reserved person, who likes to keep to himself, but was a good human being.

What's Sachin Tendulkar off the field?

When he's not out on the field punishing the other team for leaving home, Sachin Tendulkar's interests have very little to do with the game of cricket. CNBC-TV18's Tanvi Shukla reports on what makes this god of cricket really tick.

With the world cup victory, Sachin Tendulkar has reinforced his mark in sporting history but this hero of Indian cricket was inspired by a villain. "That character Gabbar had an impact," he said.

Such an impact, that Sachin even dressed up as Gabbar during a team-building exercise. So is this form of entertainment something he'd like to pursue?

"I have been offered many times, but whenever that has happened, I have only thought about cricket and nothing else. Even last year something happened but I haven’t really thought about it," he said.

Clearly, he's more than happy just watching movies. "I must have watch Sholay a number of time. I enjoy watching light-hearted movies like 3 idiots, Hera Pheri, Munna Bhai, where you can start from anywhere and you still enjoy it," Sachin said.

Of course, sports' movies like Lagaan, Chak De and Rocky rank among his all-time favorites, but only as motivational tools. So would he watch a movie on India's Worldcup victory? "I've never thought about that," he said. "The whole experience of lifting the trophy was incredible. It is something you always dream about and when it happens, you don’t know how to react. All the players had happy tears in the middle and it is something that never happened to the team. It was a very touching moment for all of us," the god of cricket iterates.

And to deal with the stress that comes of being an Indian cricketer, Sachin says he prefers music. "The song that I have recently been listening to a lot is Where the Streets Have No Name by U2."

But these are just temporary escape routes. For Sachin everything is around cricket. "If anything else threatens to become a distraction then I avoid that. Your whole existence is about cricket so nothing should distract you from that," he added.

Maken bats for inclusion of sports in Bharat Ratna criteria

Sports Minister Ajay Maken today said that his ministry would ask the Home Ministry to include sports in the criteria for Bharat Ratna, after calls for bestowing Sachin Tendulkar with the coveted award got louder following India’s World Cup triumph.

“Bharat Ratna is given only to those who have done eminent work in the field of art, literature, social service, science and technology but sports is not included in it.

The Sports Ministry now wants to include sports also,” Mr. Maken told reporters.

“And now that we want India to do well in Olympics and other international events, the sportspersons must also be considered for this honour. And if any sportsperson gets Bharat Ratna it would be a matter of pride for all the Indians. We will take up this issue with the Home Ministry,” he said.

However, the government has already stated that bestowing ’Bharat Ratna’ to sportspersons would require tweaking of criteria that has been laid down for the country’s highest civilian honour.

The ‘Bharat Ratna’ was started in 1954 and has so far been given to 41 eminent personalities, none of whom are sportspersons, the reason being the criteria for the coveted honour.

1500 ft Birthday Gift For Sachin Tendulkar

At a time when Indians across the globe are celebrating country's victory in the recently culminated Cricket World Cup in their own styles, an Allahabadi artist, Rajkumar Chitera, has come forth with a unique idea to pay tribute to legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, by making a 1500 ft long painting, show casing every aspect of his life.

"This is going to be the largest painting ever made covering every aspect of the master-blaster's life, who has become a legend today in the game of cricket," Rajkumar informs and further adds, "From his parent's pictures (as they have always been the guiding force in his life) to childhood moments including the ones spent at the field, I plan to incorporate everything in this huge painting. Moreover, the painting will also depict Indian team's tryst with other teams at the World Cup 2011, where our teamIndia fought really hard for the victory."

However, what is unique about this painting is the fact that the artist promises to complete it in record 39 hours. "I will start my painting on the 22nd of April and would complete it in 39 hours on 24th of April, the day master blaster would celebrate his birthday and turn 38. This painting will not only be a tribute to him for having played 6 world cups, but also a birthday gift from my side."

The venue, where this painting will be made is city's Chandra Shekhar Park. Raj Kumar Chitera is a renowned artist, who has also made many sand sculptors of various personalities of the country earlier on the banks of Sangam. The artist is also planning to put this colossal painting on display later at the gateway of India, Mumbai

Sachin Tendulkar is already a Bharat Ratna: Abhishek Bachchan

Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan today said that Sachin Tendulkar is already a "Bharat Ratna" to the people of the country going by his achievements in the cricket.

When asked whether the government should confer the highest civilian honour on the legendary cricketer, Abhishek said, "Tendulkar is already a 'Bharat Ratna' going by the admiration he has got from all Indians for his achievements in the cricket field."

Stating that that he does not know the criterion of the government for conferring the honour, junior Bachchan regretted that he was not the one who could decide whether his fellow Mumbaikar should receive it.

The 35-year-old actor was in the state capital to promote his upcoming release 'Dum Maro Dum'.

Cricket World Cup 2011: India's Sachin Tendulkar rules out retirement and pays tribute to coach Gary Kirsten

Sachin Tendulkar says he has no intention of retiring following India's World Cup triumph, but said the team would miss outgoing coach Gary Kirsten.

India regained the World Cup after 28 years with a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the final in Mumbai on Saturday under former South African batsman Kirsten. And much has been written about Tendulkar's achievements, the master batsman has heaped praise on his outgoing coach.

"Personally, I would say Gary (Kirsten) should continue but he has family commitments," Tendulkar told the NDTV. "I respect his decision. We will miss him a lot. It's been a pleasure to work with him. He's probably worked harder than anyone else."

India not only secured the number-one ranking in Tests and number two in one-day internationals under Kirsten, but also became a formidable force both at home and away.

Tendulkar, the world's leading run scorer in both Tests (14,692) and one-day internationals (18,111), became a World Cup winner for the first time on his sixth and probably last appearance in the tournament.

He said winning the World Cup was his biggest cricketing moment and that for now he had no intention of calling time on his career.

"I miss my father. He would be proud. My kids being there for the victory lap made it even more special," said Tendulkar who finally got his hands on the trophy on his sixth attempt. "I can't believe we're the world champions. I am enjoying cricket too much to retire from any form of the game.

"I could not have asked for anything better than this. Winning the World Cup ... it is the proudest moment of my life."

While praising his coach, Tendulkar also paid tribute to Mahendra Singh Dhoni hailing him as the "best captain" for leading the team shrewdly in the high-pressure tournament.

"He (Dhoni) reads the situation well, is open to ideas and above all he stays calm and doesn't show frustration," he said.

It was the second major title India had won under Dhoni after the World Twenty20 Championships in South Africa in 2007.

Tendulkar said India had peaked at the right time.

"In the knockout stage, we peaked at the right time. We batted, fielded and bowled well. You see effort from all players. Performance no one can guarantee, but effort you can guarantee," said Tendulkar.

India beat defending champions Australia in the quarter-finals and Pakistan in the semi-final before prevailing over Sri Lanka.

Mumbai Indians are corporates' favourites

The Mumbai Indians captained by cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar are turning out to be a hot property among the IPL teams this year, with leading corporates rushing for a tie up with it.

Two-wheeler major Hero Honda that until last year was sponsoring Delhi Daredevils, has changed sides for the Reliance Industries Ltd-owned team and is paying an estimated fee of about Rs. 75 crore for three years.

Moreover, Japanese tyre major Bridgestone has also become a partner with the Mumbai Indians and according to industry sources, is paying up to Rs. 7 crore annually under its three-year deal.

At the same time, Coca Cola has replaced PepsiCo as the partner for MI (Mumbai Indians) for the season four of the IPL that kicks off on Friday.

Experts are of the view that Tendulkar would be the key factor, but so would be the presence of a lot of other top players when it comes to attracting sponsorships.

"It (Mumbai Indians) is among the better teams in the IPL and I think there is an air of stability around it. Also, it has a huge fan base and that must count for a lot," said cricket expert and commentator Harsha Bhogle.

For a company like Bridgestone, known for its past association with F1 and other motorsports globally, the Mumbai Indians is a preferred choice for what is its first ever association with cricket.

"We, as a company, would like to strengthen our involvement in India?s most watched sport and be a part of the victory; We are sure Mumbai Indians will achieve this IPL," according to Bridgestone India Managing Director H Tanigawa.

Another company, Loop Mobile has also joined the extensive list of MI sponsors this season.

Other big brands that are associated with the team include Master Card, Dheeraj Reality, Adidas, Kingfisher, Royal Stag, Orbit, Boomer, Air India and MSN.

Mumbai Indians, led by icon player Sachin Tendulkar, has added some new talent for IPL 4, including all rounder Andrew Symonds and Rohit Sharma. Mumbai Indians has stars like Harbhajan Singh, Lasith Malinga and Kieron Pollard.

Even an online retailer of consumer electronics and appliances Letsbuy.com has also partnered with Master Card. Master Card are preparing to launch MI Indians pre-paid card to offer interesting deals to MI fans.

Proudest moment of my life, says Sachin

I could not have asked for anything else. It is the proudest moment of my life,' said Tendulkar after the Indian team did a lap of honour after India's six wicket victory over Sri Lanka here Saturday to lift the World Cup after 28 years.

Till now, the master blaster possessed the most individual records that an international cricketer can hope for except the the World Cup. He got it on his record-equalling sixth attempt.

Asked about winning the elusive crown, Sachin said: 'It was worth the wait all these years. They were happy tears and you are right I could not control them.

'I want to thank my teammates as without them, nothing would have happened.'

'I especially want to thank the support staff. Mike Horn (motivational speaker), who has helped us cope with the expectations and pressure. The team stuck together in the rough phases and proved people who doubted our ability wrong.

'Self-belief has been always there but in the last two years we have been very consistent. It has been a great honour to be part of this team. Lastly, a special thanks to Gary Kirsten (coach) and Paddy Upton (mental conditioning coach).'

Cricket museum for Sachin Tendulkar in Pune

Acting on the wish of Maharashtra government, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Wednesday passed a proposal to allot land for a cricket museum to be built in honour of champion batsman Sachin Tendulkar.

A plot of land measuring around 1.25 acres at Balewadi has been set aside for the project. Besides that, Rs 40 crore has been earmarked for the project.

"The proposal will go through various committees of PMC before we forward it to the state government," said PMC mayor Mohansingh Rajpal.

The proposal was put forth by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) members Shreekant Patil and Baburao Chandere.

He estimated that after completing all the formalities, the PMC is likely to make the allotment within a couple of months.

Patil said the proposal was unanimously accepted.

"It will be an honour to have Sachin Tendulkar's museum in Pune. We are confident it would become a major tourist attraction," Patil said.

The museum will detail Tendulkar's rise to stardom in international cricket.

The museum was initially supposed to be set up in Mumbai but, due to lack of space in the country's financial capital, it has been shifted to Pune.

The standing committee of the PMC also has plans to felicitate the Indian cricket team for its World Cup triumph.

Yuvi and the rest bat for Sachin's Bharat Ratna

Yuvraj Singh on Tuesday advocated Bharat Ratna for Sachin Tendulkar. "Sachin Tendulkar should get Bharat Ratna for his services to the game. He deserves it the most," he said, after reaching Chandigarh, his hometown.

His captain MS Dhoni, teammate Harbhajan Singhand former hockey captain Dhanraj Pillay also joined the chorus for awarding the Bharat Ratna to Tendulkar.

On his Test form, the stylish southpaw said, "In two days time IPL is beginning. I really haven't found time to think about anything else. When Tests will come, we will see."

On his mature performance, he said, "I have always played according to the situation. Hitting sixes and taking singles is all part of the game."

When asked to pick the moment to cherish during this World Cup, he said, "It has to Dhoni's winning six."

Sachin Tendulkar believed in me: Yuvraj Singh

Call him Man of the Tournament, Man of the Moment or whatever you want and Yuvraj Singh won’t mind. He tells DNA that Tendulkar’s encouraging words inspired his turnaround.

We saw a vintage Yuvraj Singh after the match. You were cracking jokes and living the moment... Enjoying the post-match press conference had nothing to do with my on-field performance. I have had this sense of humour for a long time, whether things are going right or not. Everyone knows that I am very open in life. I am what I am.

At what point during your comeback did you feel you were getting back there? The series against New Zealand was when I started to get in to the groove. I had scored a fifty against Australia (at Vizag) earlier and then one against New Zealand. And I was getting wickets too. But they were not big scores. So I knew I had to continue doing the right things.

Shahid Afridi has said that Indians don’t have a big heart… (Laughs) Honestly, they have a bigger heart. No wonder they dropped so many catches while playing against us.

Model Poonam Pandey had said she wanted to strip for the victorious Indian team… I heard her name for the first time at the post-match conference after the final. I was like, ‘Who is this’. I was then chasing Mahi (Dhoni), asking him if he had an extra-marital affair with her (laughs)! But honestly, I don’t know what to say about such things.

We were not reading newspapers. We were asked to switch off completely. It was very tough to do that, especially with the World Cup happening at home. The criticism and expectation levels hit a new high when you read. It was mentally and physically tough.

What was the team talk before the final chase? Chasing 275 was always big. But coming in to this game, we had two very tough games. Our plan was to come out and try and bat 50 overs. The idea was to keep the required run-rate around six per over. Even when Gautam (Gambhir) and MS (Dhoni) were going well, the run rate did touch 6.5, but they maintained it. Finally, we finished off the game in the powerplay. Over and above, we handled the pressure very well.

Your dedication to Sachin is now well-documented. How would you elucidate his role in your comeback? He was always around. During my tough times, he told me to keep up the spirit. He said ‘You don’t know what is there in the box for you in future. You may be working hard, but work harder’. Sachin also told me that he believed in me and knew I’d deliver at the right time.

What were your first words to MSD after winning? There were no words. Just hugging and screaming and crying in happiness.

India are world champions and also No 1 in Tests. Do you think India will have to dominate to maintain their status? We don’t know about domination. But for now, a dream has come true. We wanted to win desperately. Now that we are world champions, we have to maintain the good work.

You said Gary Kirsten was like a father figure to you. How would you describe his role? He deserves a lot more credit than what he gets. He kept the team united. He took the reigns of the team when we were going through some really tough times. But he also has a family and wants to spend time with them. He has got bright kids and a nice wife. The Kirsten family has sacrificed a lot for the Indian team. Gary’s wife has brought up the kids all by herself, and it isn’t easy. In fact, we (Sachin and I) were kidding about getting him a dual passport and not let him go.

He has made a big difference in your batting… When things are not working, you need to understand the whys and wheres of the situation. That’s where Gary exactly helped me and that’s why we have coaches. Coaches are supposed to get the best out of you.

World T20 title, No 1 in Tests, 50-over World Cup... Are you ready to get married? (Laughs) What is the connection here? So what if I have won all this. I am relishing the moment. Why are you hell-bent to take away all the happiness? But honestly, I am waiting for the right girl. I am not able to find her.

'Kohli, Pathan shouldering Sachin a defining moment'

Virat Kohli and Yusuf Pathan shouldered the burden of carrying a tricolour-wielding Sachin Tendulkar on a spontaneous victory lap around the Wankhede Stadium the night India clinched World Cup 2011.

Balwinder Sandhu, member of the 1983 WC-winning squad, describes that act as one of two defining moments for Indian cricket. He reasons: “Kohli and Pathan showed young India’s appreciation of the contribution by Sachin Tendulkar to Indian cricket. It was a way of demonstrating respect to a senior, older player who has done so much for the nation. The scene of the two carrying him on shoulders is one of two defining moments for Indian cricket, after Kapil Dev lifting the 1983 World Cup at Lord’s.”

Sandhu explains the implications of the two highs, 1983 and 2011, for India as a nation. “The win under Kapil gave Indians an attitude. He showed all of us that if you put heart and soul into any work, any profession, excellence can be achieved. It inspired a generation. Now MS Dhoni’s achievement will show a generation of young Indians the way to becoming best in the world.”

Tendulkar deserved to be on a World Cup-winning squad, says the ex-India seamer who watched the India vs Sri Lanka finale in a television studio. “Sachin had a dream of being part of a World Cup-winning team. He worked over the years towards it, now he can enjoy the feeling,” said Sandhu, for whom the significance of a World Cup triumph in 1983 sunk in on landing.

The 2011 World Cup final was held in Mumbai and live television coverage multiplied the euphoria effect across the nation. “We realised how important a World Cup victory was for Indians, how each one felt proud and happy. The feeling is the same now after the second World Cup win, cricket setting off celebrations is a pleasant sight for people stressed out due to scams exposed daily.”

WC 2011 was Tendulkar’s sixth in a row, at 38 years is a veteran on Dhoni’s squad. He bridged the generation gap on the strength of achievement and humility, but to see 23-year-old Kohli or 29-year-old Pathan displaying reverence for a senior in such transparent way in front of a worldwide audience was a heartening visual for Sandhu in times where the divide between traditional ideas and new thinking is widening.

Dhoni’s captaincy is a mix of bold and stubborn decisions, Sandhu emphasises on the intent. “Team India under Dhoni is doing well because the captain’s intentions are good, decisions are based on cricketing logic and he thinks outside-the-box. People may feel certain decisions are illogical, but most cricketing decisions are done on basis of illogical thinking. You can’t go by the book always and expect results.”

Cricket’s utility as an unifying force in India is another point the India seamer would like to drive home. “A leader like Dhoni who can guide people in the right direction is vital for India to become a world beater. The 2011 WC squad had players belonging to different religions but the captain kept them together. The World Cup victory is a lesson for those in power with ambitions to become national leaders.”

Sandhu is also happy for coaches like Ramakant Achrekar, known as Tendulkar’s mentor. “Having trained under Ramakant Achrekar, I was happy to give him the joy of seeing one of his students on World Cup-winning squad in 1983. I’m happy to see players who I worked with over the years in Ranji Trophy for Mumbai, Baroda and at the National Cricket Academy, doing their part in India’s second WC victory.”

For the ex-India seamer, the Wankhede win is a dream come true. “I have a few unfulfilled dreams. One of them is to see this Indian team, perhaps the most talented in the last 50 years, win the World Cup in 2011,” Sandhu had written in the closing chapter of his book The Devil’s Pack about 1983 teammates, launched prior to the tournament. Dhoni’s squad made it a reality, inspiring generations to come.

Govt mulling Bharat Ratna for Sachin Tendulkar: Sources

After 21 years of cricket, 99 international centuries and now the World Cup, the country's highest civilian honour might be the next feather in Sachin Tendulkar's cap.

The Home Ministry is seriously considering the rising chorus for the batting maestro to be bestowed with the Bharat Ratna, sources said.

The demand to honour the batting maestro with the Bharat Ratna had gained momentum after he scored a double ton in the ODI series against South Africa last year.

Headlines Today was the first channel to initiate a campaign for a Bharat Ratna for Sachin.

Now Tendulkar's name for the honour has been recommended by a number of politicians as well.

In fact, the Maharashtra assembly has passed a resolution requesting the central government to confer the Bharat Ratna on Tendulkar. The BJP too has demanded highest honour for the players.

If Sachin is conferred with the honour, it would be another first. No other sportsperson has ever been given the Bharat Ratna.

Meanwhile, former Indian Skipper Rahul Dravid has said that Sachin is already a Bharat Ratna for the country.

Indian captain M.S. Dhoni too has backed the batting genius for the nation's highest civilian honour. "Sachin deserves the Bharat Ratna. He has done great things for the country," Dhoni said.

Tendulkar tweets to thank everyone

There are few cricketers in the planet as reticent as Sachin Tendulkar. But when the Master Blaster makes a statement, people stand up to take notice of what the maestro says.

Tendulkar, on Tuesday, reached out to the countrymen with a message that Indian cricket team’s World Cup triumph should serve as an inspiration to pursue their dreams with perseverance.

“Let’s hope this Team India achievement inspires every one to believe in their dreams abilities ... and to put in the hard work necessary to chase and achieve their dreams,” he twitted.

The Little Master thanked the countrymen for their support and love for the team, which he said had helped them win the World Cup.

“Thanks for all your support, love and prayers which helped us win the World Cup. It is such a great feeling to become the World Champions fulfil a long-cherished dream,” he wrote.

Sachin is already a 'Bharat Ratna': Dravid

Former India captain Rahul Dravid feels that although Sachin Tendulkar is yet to be conferred ’Bharat Ratna’, he is already one for the millions of cricket crazy Indians.

“I don’t know when he (Sachin) will get it officially as I am not aware of the rules. But he is already a ‘Bharat Ratna’ for Indian people because of his phenomenal success and the manner in which he has served Indian cricket for years,” Dravid told the mediapersons at a promotional event of his new IPL team Rajasthan Royals.

Dravid, who is now only considered for Test cricket is hopeful that he will do well for his new IPL team.

“I have played in the first three editions of IPL and this format is not new to me. Since I got a lot of time after the South Africa Test series, I worked hard on my fitness and also made a few adjustments to my technique. Hopefully, things will fall in place,” he said.

Won't part with goodies this time, says Sachin Tendulkar

Over 21 years Sachin Tendulkar has given away his cricket kit — shirts, caps, pads, trousers, bat, gloves etc — for charity. But there are certain things he has decided to keep for life after winning his first World Cup; most of it is the cricket kit he carried for the final to the Wankhede Stadium on April 2.

“I will keep the shirts that I had worn during the final. I will definitely retain them. I am also going to keep the champagne bottle we opened immediately after we held the World Cup.

“The bottle I opened has been signed by the entire team. I am definitely going to retain that bottle. Then the bat and other things; they are special,'' Tendulkar told The Hindu.

What was he contemplating on his way back to the dressing room dismissed by Lasith Malinga? “Nothing. I was not contemplating anything. We had decided that we would try our best and not worry about the outcome; the result would come at the end of the game.

“So why worry about it at the beginning of the innings. Our intention was to focus on the process. We wanted to take small steps at a time.”

PLAY YOUR GAME

What did he tell Virat Kohli? “While crossing Virat (Kohli) I just told him to play for 50 overs and we will win and also that he need not try anything extra.”

Comparing the 2003 final at Johannesburg and this one, he said, “The target then was 359 and this time 275. Here we knew that if we played for 50 overs we were going to win. I felt that the kind of batting order we had would take us through.”

Responding to the four changes made by Sri Lanka he said: “Honestly, I am not aware of what made them to make changes and I would not like to comment on their team selection. For us we were playing Sri Lanka.

“The changes made by Sri Lanka were not on our minds, we were just keen on doing our job. Of course there was some discussion on what could be their playing XI. We were not thinking whether they had picked the right combination.”

Did he dream of playing and winning the World Cup final at the Wankhede Stadium?

“That was my dream after we lost in 2007. I took up that challenge saying that the next World Cup final is in Mumbai and this is where I would want the trophy. So it was a challenge and I started working towards that.”

PTI reports

Of the six captains he has played under in a career spanning 21 years Tendulkar rated Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the best for his sharp mind and calm demeanour.

“He (Dhoni) is the best captain I have played under. He is very sharp and always alert. He reads the situation well and is open to sharing ideas. He always has discussions with bowlers, batsmen and senior players separately,” said Tendulkar.

“Another good thing is he is always calm and never shows his frustration. These are some of the qualities that have made him such a good captain. He is a fantastic captain,” he added.

WANTED GARY TO STAY...

Asked about outgoing India coach Gary Kirsten, Tendulkar said he wanted the South African to continue. “Personally I want Gary to continue, but I understand he has got commitments and he must have thought about this before the tournament. I respect his decision,” he said.

“It has been a pleasure to work with him, he worked as hard as the players, he is like a bowling machine, bowling 200-300 balls to the batsmen. It has always been a fabulous experience to rub shoulders with him, we will miss him,” he added.

Tendulkar feels the team peaked at the right time in the knockout stage after playing some close matches in the league stages of the tournament.

“In the knockout stage we peaked at the right time, it was most important, we knew either the batting was clicking or bowling or fielding but everything was not clicking together. But in the last three games, everybody contributed, right from seniors to juniors in the team. Results no one can guarantee, but efforts can be,” he said.

Asked about the lap on the shoulders of his teammates after winning the World Cup, Tendulkar said it was a pleasant surprise and thanked his colleagues for the gesture. “I became extremely emotional and those were tears of joy.

“It has never happened in my life. It was truly an amazing experience to do the lap. I was not expecting that and I was taken by surprise.

THANK YOU, TEAMMATES

“I want to thank all my teammates for that gesture. What a way to end the World Cup. It was an overwhelming experience,” he said.

To a question as to how the team prepared for the World Cup, Tendulkar said the real preparation started after the South Africa series and the Bangalore camp helped the team to gel well.

“Preparation started some time ago but the real preparation was after the South Africa series when we spent 50-55 days together in the Bangalore camp, that really helped us,” he said.