Sachin Tendulkar is available for IPL 5: Mumbai Indians

New Delhi: The Mumbai Indians have rubbished the reports that their skipper Sachin Tendulkar is doubtful for the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League.

"Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar will be joining the in-progress camp at Wankhede Stadium from 31st March 2012 and is fully available for the entire IPL season 5," Mumbai Indians said in its statement.

Reports had been doing the rounds that Sachin might have to give the tournament a miss due to an old toe injury, which has resurfaced and might need surgery.

But Sachin is in London for what is merely a routine check-up of an old toe injury. "Sachin is in UK to consult his doctor and will be back in India to join the camp from 31st March", Mumbai Indians said.

The IPL is all set to commence on April 4 in Chennai, where Tendulkar's Mumbai Indians, the last year's second runner-up will take on defending champions Chennai Super Kings at the M A Chidambaram Stadium.

Tendulkar, who notched up his 100th international ton in the recently-concluded Asia Cup, also did not attend the BCCI-organised felicitation function of the retired batsman Rahul Dravid last evening at a hotel near his residence here, as he had already left for England.

Sachin had suffered an injury to his toe almost a decade ago. It came back to haunt him last September and upset his plans to play the ODI series in England after a not-too-successful run in the four-Test series that preceded it.

He was withdrawn from the team sheet before the first ODI, which was washed out. And then the BCCI issued a statement, saying that Tendulkar had been ruled out of the series "due to a toe injury".

Tendulkar had consulted a specialist in London after suffering the injury and was advised four weeks' rest.

Tendulkar came back to play the Test rubber against the West Indies at home after missing the Champions League Twenty20, which was won by Mumbai Indians under the stand-in-skipper Harbhajan Singh.

But after playing the Test series against the Windies, Tendulkar again opted to rest for the ODI series.

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Sachin is my son’s greatest hero: Vidhu Vinod Chopra

By Hindustan Times

The 100th ton is finally in the history books. And the question on everyone’s mind is: What is next for Sachin Tendulkar? Today, it’s taking Team India to the Asia Cup final and later giving Mumbai Indians a winning chance in IPL Season 5 that flags off in April 4. On April 27, Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Ferrari Ki Sawaari, a film about a young boy whose obsession with a Ferrari takes him to the Lord’s cricket ground, opens. Sachin owns a Ferrari and his son Arjun and Vinod’s son Agni Dev study in the Dhirubhai Ambani International School and play cricket together.

“Agni is a young cricketer and I’d gone to the MIG cricket club to watch him play. He wasn’t happy to see me, cribbing that now everyone would know he was my son. It impressed me to see a 10-year- old trying to make it on his steam, that sparked off an idea which the co-writer and director Raju Mapuskar developed into a film,” reminisces Chopra.

The climax is set in Lord’s and instead of cutting corners and faking the historic venue, Chopra decided to take his film to the London cricket ground. “It wasn’t easy getting permission to shoot. Initially, I got a curt ‘no’, but I went back with a detailed storyboard and eventually was allowed access into the Mecca of cricket, including the iconic Long Room at Lord’s,” he exults.

The Long Room that the players pass on their way to the middle from the dressing room and back, is a long walk lined with paintings of famous English cricketers and administrators and dates back to the 18th century. Only four overseas players from Australia have their portraits up there — Sir Donald Bradman, Keith Miller, Victor Trumper and Shane Warne. “It was such a thrill to walk down the Long Room and on the grounds. I took Agni along for the shoot. He was impressed, but Sachin is still his greatest hero. Whatever I do, I can never be Sachin!”

Sachin in Ferrari Ki Sawaari?
The buzz is that the Master Blaster could make an appearance in the film. Last May, he had tweeted, “Vinod Chopra has a script called Ferrari Ki Sawari. Just heard it. Sounds awesome”, then posted a picture on Twitter, saying, “Hanging with Vinod Chopra and Atul Kasbekar... 3 more Idiots (sic)?” Two years ago, Sachin had shot a documentary on Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak temple, Vignaharta Shree Siddhivinayak, directed by Yashwant Ingavale. Prod Chopra on whether the rumour is true and he retorts, “No comments!”

Cricket in Bollywood
* All-rounder (1984)
* Malamaal (1988)
* Awwal Number (1990)
* Chamatkar (1992)
* Lagaan (2001)
* Stumped (2003)
* Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004)
* Iqbal (2005)
* Salaam India (2007)
* Chain Khuli To Main Khuli (2007)
* Victory (2008)
* Dil Bole Hadippa (2009)
* Patiala House (2011)

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Sachin rates his own commitment and scores 100/100

Mirpur: 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 here 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.

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Pakistan salutes record-setting Sachin Tendulkar

Karachi: Former cricketing greats and fans in Pakistan paid tribute Saturday to Indian batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar after he became the first player ever to score 100 international centuries.

"It is a great achievement which other players of his era and those who come after him will not even think of achieving," former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad told AFP, who featured in Tendulkar's first Test in Karachi in 1989.

"When he played against us in 1989 he showed glimpses of what was in store for world cricket and the kind of sincerity he has shown with the game has only made him immortal and prolonged his career to 23 years and he can still go on."

Miandad hailed the father of two, known variously as the "Little Master" or "Bombay Blaster", as a role model for the cricketing world.

"I congratulate Tendulkar on this rare feat and advise the future generation of players, wherever they live and wherever they play, to just follow Tendulkar's focus, dedication and hunger for success."

Another former Pakistan captain Moin Khan, who played against Tendulkar from 1992-2004, also joined the chorus of praise.

"He has achieved something which will be tough to match. He has been a trend-setter and if players try to emulate him we will get more and more great players, but his records will be tough to erase.

"Tendulkar's speciality is that he is very very professional, he loves the game and lusts for runs. With no controversy in his career he has been a role model to follow for future cricketers," said Moin.

"I would call him the Kohi-noor (a famous diamond) of world cricket," said former leg-spinner Abdul Qadir, who played in Tendulkar's first Test series.

"Great players are not those who do great achievements but those who, with their great character on and off the field, become role models. And Tendulkar is a role model."

Fans in the street also acknowledged Tendulkar's feat.

"Tendulkar is also adored in Pakistan and we are happy at his achievement. We are happy that he has not hit his 100th hundred against Pakistan," said Babar Khan, a local resident.

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I am not God, says Sachin Tendulkar

Mirpur: "I am not god, I am Sachin Tendulkar" - said the iconic India cricketer who watched in dejection as his 100th international century, which he described as the "toughest" of his career, was overshadowed by the team's shock loss to Bangladesh in an Asia Cup match here.

"Yes, I have to be honest. I am human and I have emotions so I was frustrated. It does play on your mind," Tendulkar told reporters at the post-match press conference after India lost by 5 wickets.

It took Sachin 36 balls to go from 80 to 100 on Friday and his 114-run knock came off 147 deliveries but the veteran insisted that personal milestone was the last thing on his mind.

"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," he said.

"I was not looking at the scoreboard. I just took it one ball at a time and looked to do it for the team. Even after completing my century, my job was not done."

Tendulkar, who endured a year-long wait to reach the 100th century, said the delay made him realise the value of a century and admitted that his patience was tested.

"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," he said.

"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.

"I felt even after 22 years, the cricket god was testing me over the last one year. I will be honest, I was frustrated at times, but I never gave up," Tendulkar added.

He has almost every international record under his belt but Tendulkar insisted that he does not play for milestones.

"I've never played cricket for milestones. While playing I have ended up breaking a few records, but that was never my goal. I play cricket just because I enjoy the game. The 100th hundred was the most difficult."

On what his future plans were after reaching the 100th hundred, Tendulkar said, "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."

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Priyanka Chopra beats Sachin Tendulkar on Twitter

By Hindustan Times

Priyanka Chopra has more fans than cricketer Sanchin Tendulkar… at least on Twitter. The Bollywood star edged past the Little Master’s tally of 2,103,727 followers, with her own impressive figure of 2,156,056 adoring Tweeple.

“I can’t believe these numbers, and I certainly can't begin to compare myself to Sachin Tendulkar,” Priyanka insists, adding, “He is a legend who has brought fame, recognition and pride to our nation. He has been hugely popular on Twitter from the day he joined and I don’t think that is going to change.

The Fashion (2008) star admits that her numbers don’t really count when compared to the support Sachin enjoys. “His popularity, and the love and support he receives from millions of Indians continues to grow,” she adds.

The batsman, widely regarded as one of the greatest Indian sportsmen, is currently striving for the 100th century of his career. Priyanka hopes he will achieve it in the ongoing Asia Cup. “I wish him all the luck for the current series,” she says.

Interestingly, the female star has also surpassed the Khans — Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir — on the micro-blogging site.

Shah Rukh trails his Don 2 co-star with 1,996,060 followers, while Salman Khan’s tally rounds up at 1, 849, 567 and Aamir’s at 1,820,618.

The only actor ahead of Priyanka is Amitabh Bachchan, who rules the marquee with 2,304,293 followers.

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Sachin Tendulkar enters 90s

Mirpur: After a year of hype and expectation, it was destined that Sachin Tendulkar would get his hundredth international century against and in the country where he had equalled Sunil Gavaskar's then-record 34 Test centuries in 2004 on way to his highest Test score. It wasn't one of Tendulkar's better hundreds and will be remembered only for being the one that brought up the unprecedented landmark. In fact, it was his second-slowest innings of 100-plus in ODIs.

Live Scorecard

India ended up on 289 for 5, an underwhelming outcome considering their power-packed batting line-up had had a platform of 173 for 1 in the 36th over.

Bangladesh's attack was persevering but limited. Tendulkar duly milked them to finally go past a landmark that hardly anyone knew existed before he got close to it, but put tremendous pressure on the player himself in a frenzied build-up that lasted a year.

Tendulkar had motored to 80 off 102 deliveries but took another 36 before he took his hundredth run, off Shakib Al Hasan. The celebration after the achievement was understated, with Tendulkar gazing at his bat for some time before looking up towards the sky.

The monkey off his back, he belatedly took charge, hitting consecutive boundaries off Shahadat Hossain before a slog ended up in the keeper's hands. Tendulkar's departure came immediately after Suresh Raina's brisk innings had ended after having kept India going amid his senior partner's quest for the century. Raina hit 51 off 38, his knock evidence of his stroke-making abilities as also of his inability to tackle the short delivery effectively.

Raina built on a 147-run second-wicket partnership between Tendulkar and Kohli, who looked set to become the first Indian batsman to score three consecutive ODI hundreds until he played on for a breezy 66.

The hosts should have had Kohli first ball in the sixth over, when Shafiul Islam struck him on the back leg in front of middle stump with an incoming delivery, but umpire Paul Reiffel remained unmoved. Kohli's form took over after that, and with Tendulkar batting as safely as he does during some of his long Test innings, India motored along without giving Bangladesh half a chance more.

Bangladesh had themselves to blame for allowing Tendulkar to settle with a generous sprinkling of wide deliveries from their fast bowlers. His first four scoring shots were all boundaries, as he cashed in on width to drive and punch through the off side.

Shafiul did have Gautam Gambhir playing on early off a forcing flat-footed drive, but Kohli did not take long to get going after his reprieve. The field hardly moved as he flicked and cover-drove for fours in consecutive overs.

Spin was expected to be a major factor on a dry-looking pitch but Tendulkar and Kohli negotiated Bangladesh's slow army without any problems. The scoring rate did take a slight beating as singles dominated but Tendulkar soon found the freedom to slog-sweep Shakib Al Hasan over wide long-on. With his feet moving precisely now, he made room to cart Shakib inside-out over extra cover to reach his first international fifty in 13 innings.

As Kohli pummelled Nasir Hossain past extra cover, Bangladesh would surely have had memories of the mammoth chase that India set them during their last meeting, on this ground in the opening game of the 2011 World Cup.

But India were to end up well short of the 370 they scored in that game, Tendulkar taking his time amid some nerves as he passed 80. After having contemptuously worked his way to another fifty, Kohli inside-edged Abdur Razzak on to his stumps.

Raina arrived and soon, a three-ball passage summed up his game. He swivelled, hopped and awkwardly pulled a short Shahadat delivery to fine leg, cracked the next delivery, a full one, between extra cover and mid-off for four, and then again swivelled awkwardly and missed a pull to another short ball. His slog-sweeps and lofted shots over extra cover kept the runs coming, though, but Tendulkar was clearly feeling the pressure at the other end.

He played out a maiden to Mashrafe Mortaza on 83, and on several occasions, took off for non-existent singles before being sent back. The century arrived in the 44th over, and Tendulkar's relief was evident.

With the innings in need of a final burst, MS Dhoni slammed 16 off the 50th over to get India to a score that should still prove difficult for Bangladesh on a slow pitch.

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Sachin Tendulkar trains while most of Team India skips practice

It is now more than a year since Sachin Tendulkar scored his 99th international hundred. On that day in the World Cup when he made South Africa look clueless for 40 overs in Nagpur, it seemed the 100th was imminent. At 37, he had just had his most productive year of a decorated career, and had made two masterly centuries against top opposition in the World Cup. (Also Read: Sachin Tendulkar's new look for Asia Cup)

Now, after 33 century-less innings, one less than his longest barren spell ever, and the disappointments of England and Australia, even the usually reverential media are raising questions about his place in the side, at least in one-dayers. Is the burden of the 100th weighing him down? The man himself hasn't said much. But would someone who has shouldered surreal amounts of pressure all through his cricketing career buckle when faced with a milestone that many have argued is a made-up one?

Tendulkar made his debut in 1989; in Tuesday's game against Sri Lanka, the team-mate with the next longest career span was Gautam Gambhir, who entered international cricket nearly 14 years after him. Was Tendulkar losing his appetite for the game, especially as the more familiar faces in the dressing room are starting to disappear? Not on the evidence of Wednesday's training session.

It was an optional session, and it was expected that on the day after the win against Sri Lanka, only the reserve players would turn up. Only three members of the 15-man squad showed up; Tendulkar was one of them.

A meticulous 70-minute batting session followed, as he faced Yusuf Pathan and Rahul Sharma, besides some sharp medium-pace from new bowling coach Joe Dawes, more mild medium from the computer analyst and throwdowns from fielding coach Trevor Penney. There was plenty of chat with the bowlers, and Fletcher kept a close eye on the batsman, providing the stray bit of advice. After the session, Tendulkar had a long conversation with Fletcher.

Till then, there had been a few laughs but the training had been mostly business-like, bearing the hallmarks of a batsman short of runs trying to iron out problems. He rarely bowls these days, and his practice for the day could have ended there, and he could have retired to the shade.

Instead, he stuck around and immensely enjoyed himself with a cat-and-mouse spell of legspin bowling to Rahul Sharma. First, he tested each of the bats Rahul had carried out, and picked out the best one for Rahul to use. He sent down a ripping legbreak that Rahul tried to clobber from the nets to the main Shere Bangla ground, only to be beaten by a long way, to Tendulkar's amusement. The next legbreak was solidly defended, prompting Tendulkar to jokingly ask why he didn't try to slam that one as well. There were googlies that thudded into Rahul's thigh, a straighter one which fizzed on to middle stump, and many times when the batsman struck the ball, Tendulkar would signal that it would have been caught at mid-on or midwicket. The session ended with Tendulkar giving Rahul some batting tips.

Tendulkar has already played more Tests and one-day matches than anybody else. Surely the relentless grind of international cricket would have bored him by now? Whenever asked why he continues to play, Tendulkar invariably says he does because he still loves the game and enjoys it.

It may sound like a pat cliché but in that brief spell against Rahul, it was clear that even after all these years, he still relishes playing the game and derives much delight from it. Add to that the rigorous preparation and the craving for improvement he showed while batting, and it suggests he is in no hurry to join fellow batting legend Rahul Dravid in retirement.

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Sachin Tendulkar needs to introspect: Ian Chappell

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