Thursday, 24 January 2013

Affection of fans played huge role in my career: Sachin Tendulkar

"Something that played a huge role in my career was the warmth and affection that I have received all across the world, whoever support Indian cricket," Tendulkar said at the music launch of 'Mai' where legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle is making her acting debut.

http://sports.ndtv.com/images/stories/sachintendulkarcwc300.jpg

Senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar said that the "warmth and affection" that he has received from the cricket loving Indian fans across the globe has played a "huge role" in his career.

"Something that played a huge role in my career was the warmth and affection that I have received all across the world, whoever support Indian cricket," Tendulkar said at the music launch of 'Mai' where legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle is making her acting debut.

Champion sportspersons draw inspiration from various sources and for India's longest serving Test cricketer, his father late Ramesh Tendulkar has been the source.

"I can definitely say that my father is a source of inspiration. And then my brothers had a huge impact and after that my wife and her parents. They also play an important role. It's a family thing where it starts. At every stage there were certain goals to achieve and there are certain things which inspires you," the veteran of 194 Tests said.

The 39-year-old also took the opportunity to take a trip down memory lane as he paid rich tributes to Asha Bhosle.

"Everyone knows about the kind of impact that Asha ji has had on the Indian music. I have grown up listening to her music. In fact, ny favourite is 'In Aankho Ki Masti ke' (Umrao Jaan), which she sang for me and my wife."

When quipped about if he has any plans to make a silver screen debut, he answered,"Till the time I am playing cricket, it will only be cricket. I will do one thing at a time."

Sachin Tendulkar launches music of Asha Bhosle's 'Mai'

Bollywood playback legend Asha Bhosle and cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar bonded big time while unveiling the music of film Mai, which marks Bhosle's debut as an actor, in Mumbai on Tuesday.

The normally reclusive Sachin made an exception for Bhosle's film to come to the do. He was accompanied by wife Anjali and was all smiles throughout the evening as he released the album of the film, which is scheduled to release on May 1.

Sachin was all praise for Bhosle's music and discussed some of his favourites sung by her. He mentioned that In Aankhon Ki Masti from Umrao Jaan was a song very close to his heart. "Everyone knows the kind of impact her music has on the audience. Her contribution to Indian music is immense. I have grown up listening to her," said Sachin, who shares a great rapport with Bhosle and her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar.

http://media2.intoday.in/indiatoday/images/stories//2013january/asha-bhonsle_sachin-tendulkar_660_012413112236.jpgSachin also revealed that he looks up to Bhosle as a role model and was keen to watch her act in Mai. Bhosle gifted a memorabilia to Sachin, which includes some rare and unseen pictures of his childhood. Sachin on his part gifted a frame that had a collection of some lines of her blockbuster songs.

Bhosle admitted she was nervous while facing the camera at the age of 79. "I don't know if I would be able to watch the film with everyone. I am too nervous about my acting skills. It's an emotional story which everyone would enjoy," she said.

Mai is about an aging mother and Bhosle feels the story is relevant in the current scenario. She has dedicated the film to her mother whom she considers her idol. The film also features Padmini Kolhapure and Ram Kapoor in prominent roles and is the debut directorial feature of Mahesh Kodiyal.

Monday, 21 January 2013

Sachin Tendulkar's Ranji Trophy finals' record




Sachin Tendulkar is set to make his sixth Ranji Trophy final appearance for Mumbai, against Saurashtra in Mumbai from January 26. Tendulkar, who has played three Ranji Trophy matches this season for Mumbai including quarter-final and semi-final, is almost certain to pad up in the title clash too. Of the five finals, Mumbai won four and lost the other match.

On Monday, Mumbai qualified for a record 44th final, edging out Services on first innings lead. In Ranji Trophy finals, Tendulkar averages over 75 with 755 runs (4 centuries, 2 fifties) in 10 innings. So far, he has played in 36 Ranji Trophy games. Last time Tendulkar was in the Mumbai playing XI in Ranji Trophy final was in 2009 against Uttar Pradesh in Hyderabad. It was a forgettable game for Tendulkar as he was out for 0 and 4. However, Mumbai won the trophy with a mammoth 243-run triumph. In that final, played at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Bhuvneshwar Kumar handed Tendulkar his first duck in Indian domestic cricket. Tendulkar, who announced his retirement from One Day Internationals last month (December, 2012), first played in a Ranji Trophy final in 1991. He was just 17 then. It was against Haryana at Wankhede Stadium with Bombay losing the game by just two runs. Tendulkar scored 96 in the second innings of that final at Wankhede Stadium but could not take his team home. The 39-year-old most memorable Ranji Trophy summit clash was in 1995 at Wankhede when he struck century in both innings against Punjab and Mumbai took the trophy on first innings lead. Tendulkar, 21 years of age at the time, smashed 140 in the first innings and returned in the second essay to impress again with a 139.

Sachin's Ranji Trophy finals' record