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He was withdrawn from the team sheet before the first ODI, which was washed out.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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Play it like Tendulkar!

By Hindustan Times

He made his directorial debut with Aakrosh (1980) that bagged the National Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi and the Golden Peacock at the International Film Festival of India. It was based on a play by Vijay Tendukar, a dark satire supposedly inspired by a Page 7 incident about the
victimisation of the have-nots and the corruption in our judiciary.

Thirty-two years later, Govind Nihalani is planning a Marathi film on another Tendulkar play, Jhala Anant Hanumant . “It’s a contemporary urban fantasy, a searing satire on the commercialisation of everything including human beings who are being sold in the market as products. It’s the ‘ultimate’ marketing gimmick and something that doesn’t seem impossible in today’s scenario,” he explains.

The Tendulkar-Nihalani connection dates back to 1971, when the latter co-produced a Marathi film with Satyadev Dubey, based on a Tendulkar play. Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe, directed by Dubey, with Nihalani debuting as full-fledged cinematographer, was Tendulkar’s first screenplay.

He went on to write several landmark films, including Shyam Benegal’s Nishant (1975), Jabbar Patel’s Umbartha (1982) and Nihalani’s own Aakrosh (1980) and Ardh Satya (1983). “Jhala Anant Hanumant hasn’t been adapted on screen before because it requires expensive production inputs. The costs would be pretty high, but I’m planning big.

My film will incorporate animation, music and a huge amount of special effects. I have my fingers crossed,” says the filmmaker, adding that the project should go on the floors soon and he plans to release it this year itself.

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Warne, Dravid pay tribute to Tendulkar

New Delhi: Australia 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 on Friday.

Apart from his close friend Warne, cricket legends such as Sir Vivian Richards, former Australian captai Ian Chappell, Ian Botham, Rahul Dravid, Kevin 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 team-mate 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 Australia 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 at the young age of 17, (when) 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 came 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 is likely to 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," he told 'BBC Sports'.

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."

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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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It's selfish to retire when at the top: Tendulkar

Mirpur: Despite a phenomenal century of hundreds under his belt iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar is in no mood to consider retirement as he feels going out on top is a "selfish thought".

Tendulkar struck his 100th international century in an Asia Cup match against Bangladesh on Friday, ending a year-long wait to get to the milestone which could remain unsurpassed.

But the 38-year-old is not even thinking about bidding adieu to his over two-decade long career just yet.

"My belief is that if I feel I can contribute, I am mentally there where I feel I am bringing value to the team then I should be playing. It's a very selfish thought that when you are at the top you should retire," Tendulkar told a news channel.

"When you are at the top, you should serve the nation. When I feel I am not in a frame of mind to contribute to nation, that's when I should retire not when somebody says. That's a selfish statement that one should retire on top," he explained.

The diminnutive right-hander, who sits on a pile of records and runs, admitted it was tough to deal with the hype around the 100th ton and the fact that the wait lingered on only made it harder.

"(There is) more of a relief because my 99th hundred was against South Africa (during the World Cup) and after that media didn't speak about my 100th hundred while the World Cup was on," he recalled.

"I missed the West Indies tour and somehow there is speculation that I wanted to score the 100 in England at Lord's but a hundred doesn't come as and when you want", he said.

"For the last one year, there were patches I was batting reasonably ok and some failures also but the whole package put together, it was possibly the toughest of my life. Last one year has been really tough," Tendulkar said.

Responding to the criticism against him that he was playing only for the milestone, Tendulkar said, "There are certain people I respect and there are certain people I don't respect. So I don't get affected by ones I don't respect, they have there opinions, it doesn't matter much they remain where they are."

"I don't bother much about them. Let them be where they are. I have got a bigger job of playing for India, score runs and win matches for India and I focus on that job instead of reacting to what they are saying," he retorted.

Asked whether the 100th ton was playing on his mind before it was hyped by the media, Tendulkar said he wasn't thinking about the stat.

"Earlier the 100th 100 wasn't on my mind at all, I was so focused on the World Cup. My biggest dream was to lift the World Cup and there could be no greater satisfaction for a player than to bring the World Cup home. That was the most important moment of my life.

"I don't think anything gets bigger than that. Personal milestones are created along that path where you have got a bigger goal and the bigger goal was to play for nation," he asserted.

Tendulkar said he was glad the hoopla around the hundred had finally ended.

"I am feeling like plenty of weight has been taken off my shoulders. I said that I have lost 50 kg yesterday but looking back it feels a little more than that. I am glad that it's all done with now.

"There are moments when you question youself, why is this happening because I was batting well. There was no specific reason to get out. It just happened. Sometimes you just have to accept what the almighty's plan is for you. I want to assure you that I won't stop trying my best," he said.

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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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Tendulkar becomes first batsman to hit 2,000 boundaries in ODIs

Mirpur: While India and the world continues to wait for Sachin Tendulkar's 100th international century, the master blaster on Friday reached another milestone when he struck the 2000th boundary of his ODI career.

Live Scorecard

In the Asia Cup match against Bangladesh, Tendulkar smashed the boundary when he slapped a Mashrafe Mortaza delievry to wide of short cover in the 3rd over.

As is the case with most of his records, Sachin is the first batsman to cross this mark in boundaries in ODIs. The cricketer with the maximum fours behind Tendulkar is retired Sri Lanka legend Sanath Jayasuriya who, with 1500 boundaries to his name, is way behind Sachin.

However, when it comes to hitting sixes in the 50-over format, it is not Tendulkar but Shahid Afridi who is on top of the list.
The Pakistan all-rounder is only three short of 300 sixes and is followed by Jayasuriya who slammed 270 shots over the boundary.
Tendulkar, with 193 sixes, is third on the list.

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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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