Video : Sachin Tendulkar takes oath as Rajya Sabha member

A smile played on Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar's face as he read his oath as a member of Parliament. Cricket's most prolific batsman ever is clearly looking forward to playing some master strokes in the Indian Parliament and says this stint will help him give back not only to cricket but other sports as well.

Dressed in a white shirt with pale check checks and dark trousers, Mr Tendulkar looked much at home signing the register as a new Rajya Sabha MP. After the oath-taking in the office of Rajya Sabha Chairman Dr Hamid Ansari, the master blaster said he was honoured to have been nominated by the President of India to the Upper House. "In the last 22 years of my international career, cricket has given me so much and I also wanted to give something back to cricket in the latter half of my life. Today with the nomination, I am in a better position not only to help cricket but also other sports. It means a lot to me. I will try to help other sports."

Accompanied by his wife Anjali and Congress leader and IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla, Mr Tendulkar was emphatic that cricket remained his whole life, but also that he wanted to be remembered for more contribution than to just cricket statistics: "I will be happy if I am remembered as someone who contributed to my country, rather than just cricket statistics. That would be fantastic."

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In Pictures : Sachin Tendulkar takes oath as Rajya Sabha member