In a unique campaign to pay tribute to retiring Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, STAR India has launched a 'Cheer for Sachin' campaign, targetting to break the world record for maximum cheers garnered by any initiative ever across the world.

"STAR India has launched a unique campaign 'Cheer for Sachin' to pay tribute to Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar as he gets ready to play the farewell series against West Indies early next month," the channel said in a statement.

Stars from bollywood, cricket as well as TV have already recorded their cheers for the 40-year-old icon.

Stars like Priyanka Chopra, Prosenjit Chaterjee, Kapil Dev, Ravi Shastri, Wasim Akram, Rameez Raja and protagonists from the leading serials on STAR Plus like 'Diya Aur Baati Hum' and 'Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai' have recorded their cheers.

The broadcaster has also reached out to Sudhir Kumar — regarded by many as the biggest Tendulkar fan to record a special cheer for this campaign.

Speaking on the initiative, Gayatri Yadav, EVP-Marketing and Communications, STAR India, said, "For 24 years, the legend has stood for a billion...and now it's time for a billion to stand for one."

The campaign will run across the STAR Sports network as well as STAR India network of channels. There will be huge focus on the digital media as well to aggregate all fans for the campaign.

The campaign invites fans to dial a number and cheer for Tendulkar. STAR India will donate its share of proceeds from the incoming call revenues to an NGO for sports development.

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While eager to give a guard of honour to batting legend Sachin Tendulkar in the Wankhede Test, the West Indies are not focusing on the farewell man alone in the coming two-match series. The visitors would rather focus on the whole Indian team which has some exciting cricketers, says their captain Darren Sammy.

Sammy was categorical that the legendary batsman should not expect any "freebies" from the tourists during the two-Test series — at Eden Gardens from November 6-10 and Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium from November 14-18 -- that will bring the curtains down on Tendulkar’s playing career.

“Obviously his wicket is important but then he is just one of the 10 wickets that we have to take in each innings to win the game. We are not just focusing on Sachin alone.

“There are many others in the Indian team. There are some exciting cricketers like Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli,” Sammy told mediapersons here Wednesday.

Sammy also refused to read much into Tendulkar’s match-winning knock of 79 runs against Haryana in a domestic game Wednesday.

While the team has great respect for Tendulkar, Sammy said his team was concentrating on achieving its own targets.

“The Indians will not give us any freebies so why should we? Just because it is farewell series doesn’t mean we will allow him to score hundreds. At the end of the day it’s a competition and we have our own goals which we want to achieve,” he said.

Sammy also said his team will give a guard of honour to Tendulkar in his 200th game in Mumbai.

“His accomplishments are a testimony to his character. We have great respect for him and he deserves every bit of it. We will surely give a guard of honour to Sachin who is a great ambassador of the game,” Sammy said.

Sammy, who met Tendulkar for the first time in 2004, described his meetings with the man as humbling experiences.

“It has been an honour meeting him and playing against him. Despite the enormous success he has achieved over the last two decades, he continues to be humble. There is so much to learn from him,” added Sammy.

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Former India speedster Javagal Srinath on Wednesday said he preferred bowling to Sachin Tendulkar in the nets to know how good he was as a bowler.

"You should bowl to Sachin in the nets to know how good you are. If you beat him and also Rahul Dravid, you feel you have got your line and length perfect," he told reporters when he was asked to comment on Tendulkar's retirement after 200th Test next month.

Srinath said Sachin must have been convinced that it was time to go otherwise he could not have taken the 'hard' decision of retirement.

"You need a strong sense of mind. If you have that, you can make a decision of quitting the game," he added.

Srinath, the second Indian pace bowler after Kapil Dev to take 200 Test wickets, said he has shared a great relation with Sachin.

"What I cherish is I can pick up the phone and speak to him. He also calls me once in a while. My philosophy in life is to maintain communication even if we are far apart," he added.

Srinath also said that he cherished Tendulkar's wicket and remembered sending him back twice in his career.

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Former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq on Wednesday, said Sachin Tendulkar's retirement from Test cricket is a "big loss" to world cricket.

"Sachin's retirement is a big loss to world cricket. He is not only an amazing player but a great human being as well. I have a lot of respect for him," Saqlain told PTI Bhasha.

Tendulkar will bid adieu to the game after playing his 200th Test against the West Indies in Mumbai next month.

Saqlain, who would always be remembered for his 10-wicket match haul that was instrumental in his team handing a 12-run defeat to India in the 1999 Chennai Test match, said it was an "honour" playing against Tendulkar and he enjoyed bowling to the legendary batsman.

"I am lucky to have played against him. It's been an honour to have bowled to Sachin...sometimes I got the better of him," he said.

Saqlain, famous for inventing the 'doosra', had been training the West Indies slow bowlers on the art of bowling the delivery at a special camp in Barbados ahead of their tour to India.

Saqlain was part of a high performance camp in Barbados, where he shared tips on how to breach the defence of Indian batsmen. However, Saqlain, a veteran of 49 Tests and 169 ODIs, will not be travelling with the Caribbean team to India as he will take up the job of spin coach with Bangladesh.

"India is a very tough team at home and this series will be an emotional one for them. To be able to win in India, you must be mentally and physically fit. You need to know your game very well. Playing against Sachin, our bowlers must have the confidence to beat a player of his stature," he said.

"India, at this time, is the best team in the world. They have a winning mentality. It's difficult to beat them at home," he added.

On spin bowling scenario, Saqlain admitted the retirements of Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan has left a huge vacuum.

"...but bowlers like Saeed Ajmal, Ravichandran Ashwin,Graeme Swann and Shane Shilingford are performing well."

Saqlain said the on-field rivalry between India and Pakistan is bigger than Ashes and that they should play each other on regular basis.

"India and Pakistan should definitely play each other on regular basis as this rivalry is bigger than the Ashes. I feel not having Pakistani players in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is a loss for cricket.

I don't know why they are not allowed to be a part of it. IPL should support the sport by giving all the players a chance to play," he said.

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Basking in the success of his debut television production "24", actor Anil Kapoor Wednesday said he wished master blaster Sachin Tendulkar could continue playing cricket for the rest of his life.

"I wish he could go on and on for life... but Test cricket is a physical sport and gradually youngsters take over. The demands are tough on the body," Anil told reporters while interacting with fans.

Tendulkar announced early this month that the two-Test series against the West Indies will bring the curtain down on his illustrious 24-year-long career.

The cricketing great will be playing his 199th Test at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata Nov 6-10 and the farewell match at the Wankhede in Mumbai Nov 14-18.

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Lost in the crowd surrounding Sachin Tendulkar following his match-winning knock in his last Ranji Trophy game, Mumbai's Dhawal Kulkarni  said it was the retiring legend's guidance that helped him hang around after being hit on the face by a sharp bouncer.

Tendulkar's farewell game ended in a manner befitting his iconic stature, as he almost singlehandedly guided Mumbai to a four-wicket victory over Haryana in one of the most keenly followed matches in the history of Ranji Trophy in Lahli.

The 26-year-old pacer was associated in an unbroken 50-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Tendulkar and, despite having to endure a barrage of rising deliveries on a difficult pitch, Kulkarni stood firm.

"It was he who advised me to stay relaxed after I was hit, and it helped," Kulkarni, who was born on the day Tendulkar made his Ranji Trophy on December 10, 1988, said after Mumbai's four-wicket win.

Requiring 39 runs to win with four wickets in hand on the fourth and final day, Tendulkar went on to make a calculated 175-ball 79 not out, building his innings in the manner that has been the hallmark of his later years.

Kulkarni, who hit the winning boundary, remained unbeaten on 16 after grinding it out for 126 minutes.

Mumbai were some way off the target when the tireless Mohit Sharma, steaming in, hit Kulkarni with a sharp delivery that took off on landing at the Chaudhary Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium.

Kulkarni would never like to forget the day as not only did Tendulkar signed off on a winning note, he saw the master do it from the non-striker's end.

"Batting with him is a special feeling and that we have won the game for Mumbai together is a dream come true for me," Kulkarni, who hit two fours and faced 72 balls during his stay in the middle, said.

As Tendulkar turned and raised his bat in triumph towards the Mumbai dressing room, his arms outstretched, after helping his side cross the line, the Haryana players shook his hands before the iconic batsman was carried off the pitch on the shoulders of his teammates.

The Haryana reserves, too, joined in honouring the man whose mere presence was enough to draw in the attention of the entire cricketing world to this sleepy village.

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After guiding Mumbai to a Ranji win over Haryana in his final domestic game, retiring Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar on Wednesday said he is now eagerly looking forward to his farewell Test series against the West Indies, which starts in Kolkata on November 6.

Tendulkar will bring the curtain down on his glorious 24-year tryst with international cricket against the West Indies after playing his landmark 200th Test in Mumbai from November 14-18.

"It will be a good series. They [West Indies] are a good side, something that I'll be looking forward to...my last couple of Test matches. I hope it produces good cricket and lives up to the expectations of all my well wishers," Tendulkar said after guiding Mumbai to a four-wicket win over Haryana.

Tendulkar warmed up for the Test series against the West Indies with a calculated 175-ball unbeaten 79 in Mumbai's challenging chase of 240 runs in the second innings at the lively Chaudhary Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium wicket here.

"It was a challenging wicket. It had a lot for the bowlers but it was fun to bat on this wicket. The bowlers were getting assistance from the wicket so it was not easy to score runs," the retiring legend said after playing his last Ranji Trophy game.

"240 was a big total to chase. The oufield was also on the slower side. 240 looked like 280 to chase on this wicket. This is just the kind of outing I was looking for. Haryana played very good cricket. All credit to them for putting up a good challenge and making it a memorable contest," Tendulkar said.

The stadium of this sleepy town was packed to capacity on all the four days of the match to watch Tendulkar bat for one last time in domestic cricket and the champion batsman thanked the orgainsers and the crowd for their overwhelming support.

"Fantastic arrangement, I would like to thank Haryana Cricket Association for making my stay a memorable one. I would also like to thank the security, the police did a fantastic job. Thanks to (Haryana Cricket Association Secretary) Anirudh Chaudhary for making my stay comfortable, a big thank you to the Lahli crowd and thanks for all the support and love over the years," Tendulkar said.

"I really appreciate every bit of your support and good wishes. Thank you very much for making this match a memorable one," he added.

Asked what tips did he give to the youngsters who batted alongside him, Tendulkar said: "I share basically whatever I see from the non-strikers end, not that it always work but it's fun."

"I mean it's all about talking cricket, getting to know about each other, getting to know what the bowlers are trying to do. If I see something, I share my observation with them and nothing more than that," he explained.

"We generally chat and it's about keeping each other relaxed. All the time you are focusing, sometimes you drain yourself, so it is important to switch off a little in between," Tendulkar added.

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Thirty-two chartered planes will fly celebrity guests to Jodhpur for Nita Ambani's 50th birthday bash as India's famous business family plans to celebrate it on a grand scale in Jodhpur for two days beginning on October 31. Wife of business tycoon Mukesh Ambani, Nita, is co-owner of IPL franchise Mumbai Indians and founder-chairperson of Dhirubhai Ambani International School. The guest list includes Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan and his wife Jaya, Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Anushka Sharma, singer Sonu Nigam, cricket superstar Sachin Tendulkar and Team India captain MS Dhoni and around two dozen business tycoons.

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Sachin Tendulkar's farewell game in domestic cricket ended in a manner befitting his iconic stature, as the retiring legend single-handedly guided Mumbai to a four-wicket win over Haryana in the Ranji Trophy, here on Wednesday. 

Requiring 39 more runs to win with four wickets in hand on the fourth and final day, Tendulkar went on to make a calculated 175-ball unbeaten 79, building his innings in the manner that has been the hallmark of his career. 

His stay in the middle also ensured Tendulkar warmed up for next month's Test series against the West Indies, which will culminate with his landmark 200th Test in Mumbai, where he will bring the curtain down on his glorious 24-year international career. (PTI)

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It is irrelevant if Sachin Tendulkar comes up up with big knocks or not in his swansong series but he surely deserves a good farewell for his sheer dedication in the last 24 years, former skipper Rahul Dravid said on Monday.

Tendukar will bid adieu to the game after playing his 200th Test against the West Indies in Mumbai next month.

"I just hope he really enjoys the last two games and enjoys his cricket irrespective of whether he scores or not because that is irrelevant. I hope he has a lot of fun and those two matches will be two great occasions. I just want to wish him all the best and say thank you for all that he has done for Indian cricket for the last 24 years," Dravid said.

"He is one player who has never let his standard come down. His love for cricket has been consistent from the age of 16 to even now at 40. I would like that he does well in his last two Tests and signs off with a good performance.

"His family is also coming down so both these Tests will be a big event. He has worked hard for so many years now so he deserves a good farewell," Dravid told reporters on the sidelines of a Gillette event.

"Everything is known about him. Probably he is the most written about cricketer of this generation and probably ever."

Dravid, who himself is a highly respected figure in international cricket, said it would be difficult to get near to Tendulkar's achievements.

"I played a lot of cricket with Sachin. I have seen him since childhood. He has been with the Indian team for a long time and he is a great cricketer not only in India but what he is accomplished, his statistics, his performance is difficult to replicate," he said.

Asked who he feels can get into Tendulkar's shoes after his departure, the 'Wall' said it would be unfair to expect any youngster to immediately fill the void.

"There are some good young talented players. When you look at what Virat (Kohli) has been able to do in one-day cricket and even in Test cricket, is quite exceptional. I think India's one-day batting is good as I have ever seen it. It's sensational the top six, seven they have at the moment. So just a question of some of these young guys being able to fill in. Look it is not going to be easy to fill those shoes.

"So you have got to give people time. Hopefully these young guys, you have got a Kohli or a (Rohit) Sharma, (Ajinkya) Rahane, (Suresh) Raina, so many of these young guys pushing for slots. It is going to be interesting to see which one of them can sort of hold onto a permanent slot for a while," he said.

The former Karnataka player added that he is hopeful to watch his former India team-mate for last couple of times and said his retirement wasn't a surprise.

"I am hoping to. I hope to do some media work around the couple of games that are there. I hope to be there. When you are 40 and have played as much as you have, it doesn't come as a surprise to anyone. It is just reality of sport and life, that kind of age people have been talking for a while now and I am sure he has been thinking about it for a while," he said.

Saying that it is difficult to pick one memorable innings of Tendulkar, Dravid said, "Everybody is asking me to pick out one good innings of Sachin but when somebody scores 100 centuries it is difficult to pick just one innings. You can't pick one innings out of 150 and I won't want to do that because I want to remember his full career."

Dravid was of the view that his Rajasthan Royals teammate Ajinkya Rahane could do well for the country, provided he is given a longer run.

"I think he is an exceptional player and Rahane has really done very very well. I think whenever the opportunities has been given to him he has done well. I really hope that he gets a more consistent run to show his worth. He has shown that when got that confidence in Rajasthan. He has really flowered as a player and I hope that happens in India as well. It is a tough environment but he is a tough kid," he said.

With the bowlers going for plenty of runs in the ongoing limited over series against Australia, Dravid said that the bowlers need to execute better during the slog overs.

"It's a tough series for bowlers. I mean it has not been easy series on both sides. It is very hard to blame our guys. They are young, they are inexperienced. It's not easy to be a bowler with all these field restrictions coming in. What needs to be an acceptable bowling performance for bowlers probably needs to be re-assessed.

"We can't look at old statistics and say these are acceptable numbers. Maybe 300 is an acceptable score like 250 was acceptable in the past. Maybe with the new field restrictions and two-new balls, probably 300 is acceptable. I won't be that critical. Obviously they are young and they keep improving and keep getting better, especially with maybe the execution at the death. It is one area that I think we can improve a little bit but that will come with experience," he said.

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Sachin Tendulkar might have taken the Ranji route to prepare for his swansong Test series but he has no qualms in conceding that a good performance in the country's premier cricket tournament is no guarantee for a berth in the Indian national side.

The 40-year-old, who would call time on his international career after his 200th Test next month, is here to play against Haryana in the Ranji season-opener to prepare for the matches against the West Indies.

He spoke to the BCCI's official website on the importance of Ranji Trophy.

"A good performance in Ranji Trophy definitely helps you to be recognised by the selectors but it is not a sure-shot certainty that it is going to get you a berth in the Indian cricket team because you also have to see the composition of the national squad, whether one fits into the selectors' ideas and the captain's ideas," Tendulkar said.

Tendulkar, whose average of 87.43 is the highest for any batsman who has played 50 innings in Ranji Trophy, however, felt that Ranji features excellent players and there should be constant efforts to improve the standard of the event.

"The competition is fierce and that is how it should be, you have got to have good tracks to play on and good oppositions, that's what raises the standard of playing," Tendulkar said.

"If somebody performs against a good opposition, that performance has to be recognised and I am sure the selectors are trying their best to witness most of the matches. To have the top players playing in this tournament is a bonus," he added.

Tendulkar made his Ranji debut against Gujarat in December 1988 at the age of 15 and scored an unbeaten 100, becoming the youngest Indian to score a century on first-class debut.

Recalling his early days in the event, Tendulkar said he found it exciting to share the dressing room with Test players.

"I think Ranji Trophy is an extremely important tournament...I remember at one time in the Mumbai squad that I was a part of, there were seven to eight Test players and to get to rub your shoulders with the likes of (Dilip) Vengasarkar, (Sanjay) Manjrekar and Lalchand Rajput, all these top players, it was a great opportunity for me to learn so many things at such an early age," he said.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my season, I was only 15 then and it was great fun to be a part of it," he added.

Asked to talk about his favourite Ranji moment, Tendulkar said the 2000 semifinal against Tamil Nadu, in which he scored a double hundred, was a special one for him.

"My favourite Ranji moment has to be the semifinal we played a few years ago in Tamil Nadu. We chased 484 runs. The funny thing was we had just two wickets in hand and we had to score 42 runs and I ended up scoring those 42 runs. The number 10 and 11 had both scored zeroes but I didn't realise because the competition was so fierce and intense.

"I was trying to keep the strike as long as possible and when it got to that moment, my reaction said it all. So that has to be the best Ranji Trophy I have played," he said.

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Mumbai Ranji captain Zaheer Khan on Saturday said the team was experiencing mixed feelings ahead of Sachin Tendulkar's final domestic match and the players were lucky to have the veteran batsman for their season opener against Haryana starting here on Sunday.

"It is a special game for all of us. The atmosphere is very festive. Everyone is excited to be seeing Sachin in the Ranji Trophy for the last time. As a team we are lucky to have him here, everyone is excited that he is available for this game. In a way it is like his farewell game. It is emotional and exciting and there are mixed feelings in the camp. The emotion and the occasion will help everyone put in that extra bit to perform," said Zaheer.

"Sachin is enjoying the game as he was when he started. It is very evident. We are happy to have him around. The way preparations are going on, it's going to help him play those last two games (Tests against West Indies) as well," he added.

Tendulkar will be quitting international cricket after playing the two-Test series against the West Indies at Kolkata (November 6-10) and Mumbai (November 14-18).

Zaheer is leading the side in the absence of regular captain Rohit Sharma due to his commitments with the Indian team, which is currently playing against Australia in the seven-match ODI series.

Talking about his own form, the 35-year-old seasoned left-arm pacer said he was pleased with his match fitness.

"It's very important for me to get match fitness going. I am controlling the things I can control, making sure the routine is good and keeping things on track. It's important that you put in the hard work in training. It's just that sometimes you need a change, try new things and want to look at things differently. The idea behind doing that was completely different for me and I'm happy with the way things have gone," he said.

Zaheer, who visited France and South Africa for training programmes, knows the match is his last chance to show the national selectors that he is back ahead of the Test series against West Indies.

Since his return, Zaheer has claimed seven wickets in two first-class games against West Indies 'A'.

"I'm happy with the way things are going for me. The couple of matches I played for India A were a good opportunity to get some overs under the belt. The rhythm is good, and as I played more it was coming along and things were falling in place. The more I bowl in match situations, the more it will help me," he explained.

Zaheer said the conditions at the Chaudhry Bansi Lal Stadium are suitable for seam bowling and the team sports a settled look.

"I haven't really looked at the pitch, but the conditions look suitable for seam, which is exciting. We have a balanced attack and we will be focussing on that. Being the first game, everyone is excited. All the bowlers are fresh and ready to bowl long spells, which is a good thing.

"You can look at our line-up and see that it's a good side. You have (Wasim) Jaffer, (Ajinkya) Rahane, Sachin, and (Abhishek) Nayar has been scoring runs. You have bowlers like Dhawal Kulkarni, who has been around for a while now. It's a balanced and settled side. I'm sure the season is going to be a special one for Mumbai," he said.

Ajay Jadeja, Zaheer's Haryana counterpart, also spoke highly about Tendulkar and said he was lucky enough to play alongside him.

"Some of us were fortunate to spend time with him. He is considered the god of cricket, so to have been able to spend that time with him, on the field and travelling, I consider myself lucky. I can tell my kids about the times I spent with him," he said.

"I have been watching him for 30 years. He is enjoying the game today as he did when he started off. For a player, any match, whether it is his first or last, is about enjoying the game. I have never seen him do anything different in any match, he always gives it everything.

"The last memory is of beating them in Mumbai. That's the last memory I carry of a Ranji encounter against Sachin, unfortunately for him," he added.

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Never had a Ranji Trophy season started on a note like it did on Sunday, with this sleepy hamlet here being woken up from its slumber by the one and only Sachin Tendulkar, a good few hours before the retiring legend was accorded a guard of honour in the area's sole landmark destination.

Tendulkar, who had announced his retirement from international cricket after the Test series against the West Indies next month, is here to play in what could be his last Ranji Trophy match for his state side, the opponents being hosts Haryana.

To mark the occasion, players from both the teams lined up on two sides at the start of the match as Tendulkar walked out to a thunderous ovation at the Chaudhary Bansi Lal Stadium, which nearly touched its maximum capacity of 8000 spectators.

Tendulkar, who will walk into international sunset after playing in his landmark 200th Test from November 14-18 in Mumbai, has been the only talking point in the run-up to this game, which is being seen by many as his last in the premier domestic tournament.

At lunch, after Mumbai bowled out Haryana for a paltry 134, Tendulkar received a memento from state Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda with former BCCI president Ranbir Singh Mahendra also in attendance.

The excitement among the locals reached a crescendo when Tendulkar walked out with his most favourite and destructive weapon after Mumbai lost their second wicket in reply to Haryana's first innings total.

The occasion also saw a few players of the Haryana side, which triumphed in the 1991 final over Mumbai under the legendary Kapil Dev's captaincy, reunite.

With Dev attending the event, it seemed the strained relationship he has had with the Haryana Cricket Association, has been buried.

Also present was former India pacer Chetan Sharma, while another surviving member of that 1991 final squad and presently a cricket expert, Ajay Jadeja, led the current Haryana side after having made a comeback to competitive cricket following a hiatus of more than seven years.

The small town had been waiting with bated breath for the match and the excitement was palpable as one made his way through to the stadium via the old town.

The Canal Guest House, where Tendulkar was being put up, was the centre of all the attention as fans tip-toed across the state irrigation department's facility since the crack of dawn.

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The sleepy town of Lahli in Haryana is all set to welcome Sachin Tendulkar and his Mumbai teammates as the Master Blaster gets ready to play his final Ranji Trophy game. Tendulkar and his teammates will drive down to Rohtak after arriving in Delhi by air. It is learnt Tendulkar and a few senior players may stay at a Haryana tourism guest house about 13 kilometers from the Chaudhary Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium in Lahli. The match against Haryana will be played from Sunday. ( NDTV)

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The Mumbai Cricket Association is to offer special tickets for Rs 10,000 each to the public to witness Sachin Tendulkar take his bow from the game when he plays for India in his landmark 200th Test against the West Indies here.

"There are around 1,500 seats available to the public at Rs 10,000 each for watching the match (November 14-18) from the upper tier of the Sachin Tendulkar stand. We would be providing the ticket holders tea and snacks," an official of MCA told PTI on Friday.

The rates of tickets in other stands have been kept between Rs 500 and Rs 2,500, the official added.

MCA has already decided to print the tickets with Tendulkar's photo on both the sides as a collector's item.

The first Test of the two-game series is to be held at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata from November 6-10.

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Lauding champion batsman Sachin Tendulkar's contribution, opener Gautam Gambhir on Friday said the Mumbaikar's career has encouraged generations of Indians to love the game.

"Sachin's contribution to Indian cricket cannot be expressed in words. He has inspired us and he will be inspiring next generations too," said Gambhir on the sidelines of a programme here.

Tendulkar will play his 199th Test match in Eden Gardens before he bids adieu to international cricket at Wakhende Stadium in Mumbai after playing his 200th Test.

When asked to share special moments that he shared with Sachin on and off the field, Gambhir said, "There are many such memories and it is really hard to pick up one."

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Sachin Tendulkar will not be seen at this year's Indian Grand Prix but Sahara Force India would nonetheless pay tribute to the retiring cricket icon by having one of his oft-used nicknames adorn its cars' nose section come Sunday.

"Sahara Force India pays tribute to cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar via a hashtag: #masterblaster which has been placed on the nose section of their racing cars at the upcoming Indian GP," the team said in a statement.

"Like Sachin Tendulkar, Sahara Force India aims to be a big hitter in the world of sport. With our cars adorned with the commemorative hashtag, our team will endeavour to harness the passion of an entire country and achieve a great result at our home race, the Indian Grand Prix," it added.

Tendulkar, who would be busy playing his final Ranji game this weekend in Lahli, Haryana, will retire from international cricket after his 200th Test scheduled next month.

The marquee game would be played against the West Indies in Tendulkar's home ground -- the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

The 40-year-old has played international cricket for over two decades and is easily India's most revered sportsperson besides having a huge fan following across the cricket-playing world.

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Veteran Indian tennis player Leander Paes on Thursday heaped praise on retiring cricketer Sachin Tendulkar for his longevity in the sport and the way he had conducted himself on and off the field all these years.

"For me, the way he (Tendulkar) conducts himself on a cricket field and off it is just too good. He has had an international career spanning 24 years, and I respect him for that longevity," Paes said after being felicitated by City Corporation Group Chairman Anirudh Deshpande here.

Paes, whose won the men's doubles title at the US Open in August, said the secret of his success even at the age of 40 was his hunger to win.

"A performer is always hungry to perfect his art. He is not going to be satisfied until he achieves an absolute mastery on what he does. I still strive to serve above 240 kmph. I still strive to hit a perfect top-spin backhand when the ball is above my shoulder. That's one of the toughest shots to hit," said the 1996 Atlanta Olympics men's singles bronze medallist.

Paes credited his father Vece Paes, his coaches like Nandan Bal (who was present at the event), Rick Leach, masseur Sanjay Singh and fitness trainer Dave Herman for his success.

"They all have been with me for over 20 years. It's like a family."

Reigning national hard court champion Mohit Mayur Jayaprakash, who trains under Bal, was felicitated at the hands of Paes on this occasion.

The tennis ace said he has a lot of confidence in Mohit and said the Chennai lad has a bright future.

Paes recalled his association with this city from the age of 12.

"My first memory of Pune is as a 12-year-old when I came here to learn the technique of how to play tennis under the guidance of Nandan Bal. As a player, I always looked up to him, and will continue to do so. I have always had a lot of fun and joy whenever I have come to Pune."

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Australia pacer Shaun Tait on Thursday rated batting great Sachin Tendulkar higher than compatriot Ricky Ponting and West Indian legend Brian Lara.

"It was a short span of career I had with Australia. I was lucky enough to play against Brian Lara, play with Ricky Ponting and play against Sachin. I think Sachin is probably just above those other two," Tait told reporters at the launch of KOOH Sports Cricket Development Centre here.

The 30-year old, who retired from ODI and Test cricket, said he cherished taking Tendulkar's wicket for the last time in the 2011 World Cup match against India.

"Obviously my last match was against India in the 2011 World Cup. It was actually the last time I got to dismiss him and I got his wicket. He obviously made a good 50 in that match and India beat us. But for me the memory of taking his wicket will always remain," he said.

Tendulkar will retire from Test cricket after playing the second Test against West Indies and his 200th Test match and Tait said, "It has been a long time for him, I suppose 24 years. He has earned the right to put his feet up and relax.

Unfortunately, I have to get back to Australia now but I will watch it from Australia. It would have been nice to be in the city while that was happening. It would have been a nice celebration and watch everyone go mad in the streets."

The Rajasthan Royals pacer also said that he was looking forward to a contest with Tendulkar in his first IPL game, but things didn't go according to his plans.

"I played against him a few times, not in Test cricket but in the short forms of the games and lucky enough to play in the time he has played in. My first IPL match I came over to Mumbai with the Rajasthan Royals and we played over here. Sachin was opening the batting and I was opening the bowling, so it was a little bit of a contest.

"At that time I was in good form and Sachin too was in good form. I was looking forward to the contest and I thought about it the night before the game a lot. Where I was going to bowl to him," he said.

"That was my welcome to Mumbai. It was about 45 degrees that day and I think I went for 45 runs in 4 overs. So I was well and truly in Sachin's territory. I definitely felt the effects of it the next day with a sore body," he said.

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The Mumbai Cricket Association on Thursday issued a statement on behalf of retiring great Sachin Tendulkar saying the senior India player was "more than happy" to play his final Test in the city and he would be pleased whichever way MCA chooses to felicitate him.

"Sachin Tendulkar is more than happy to play in Mumbai in front of his home crowd. He just wants his mother to be present when he plays his last Test. This is his main wish. Whichever way MCA honours him is acceptable to him," said MCA's joint secretary Dr P V Shetty.

The MCA official did not elaborate what provoked such a statement being issued on behalf of the celebrated cricketer, who will bow out of the game after playing his landmark 200th Test against the visiting West Indies team at the Wankhede Stadium here from November 14-18.

However, it was learnt that Tendulkar is upset with reports that MCA is to gift him a special painting on November 11 at the official felicitation when the association's Kandivli facility will be named after him.

Tendulkar is set to play his 199th Test at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, which happens to be the first game of the two-match rubber against the West Indies, from November 6-10 before playing in his and the series' last game here.

© PTI

Check out the new Musafir.com TVC with Sachin Tendulkar in a never before seen look as Shekhu Shekhawat. Ghoom Musafir Ghoom.

Video Courtesy : MUSAFIR.COM Youtube Channel