Former India Under-19 World Cup winning captain Unmukt Chand has revealed that it was a gentle gesture from legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar that inspired him to work harder and dream bigger.

Talking about his recent meeting with Tendulkar, Unmukt, who tasted U-19 World Cup glory in 2012 as captain, said, "That will be an unforgettable day in my life."

Eleven young cricketers associated with a corporate sports initiative were given the opportunity to be mentored by the recently-retired batsman and Unmukt was "humbled" by his icon's encouraging words.

"Sir came to me, shook my hand, handed me a bat, patted my back and said, 'Unmukt, you have always been a special talent. I see you doing well for the country in years to come. All the best and keep working hard'," Unmukt wrote in a blog on sport social network 'Sportlobster'.

"I grew up in an era where Sachin Tendulkar ruled the world of cricket. Who can forget the desert storm in Sharjah or that pull to Andrew Caddick in the 2003 World Cup, which went out of the park!" he added.

Unmukt, who was bought by Rajasthan Royals at the recent players' auction for the seventh edition of the IPL, said it was a step forward in realising his dream of playing for India in future.

"A dream for every cricketer playing in this country is to walk across the field in that blue jersey and cling onto it for as long as possible. I would be lying if I said this wasn't my dream growing up - it still is."

"The only difference between then and now is I have been lucky enough to represent my country in what I would like to call the 'lighter' shade of blue. The dream is and has always been to play for the India senior team in the 'perfect' shade of blue," Unmukt wrote.

However, the youngster is under no illusions about the enormous pressure that comes with the honour of representing one's country.

"Though the dream is to play for the country in all formats, wearing the 'perfect' shade of blue would mean carrying the hopes of a billion people on these two shoulders," the 20-year-old batsman wrote.

"As easy as it is to write about playing for the nation, the responsibility is huge, but I believe the feeling of serving the country and being the reason to extend that smile on a billion faces weighs heavier than being afraid of taking up that responsibility."

"Each cricketer begins his journey with the lighter shades of blue and gradually reaches his dream. I embarked on this journey a long while ago and as time passes I would love to look into the mirror wearing that perfect shade of blue with a billion smiles resting upon my shoulders," he added.

Unmukt backed Twenty20 cricket, saying the shortest format of the game 'tests a player's decision-making skills'. "Twenty20 cricket is scrutinised around the world for over-shadowing the importance and essence of Test cricket, therefore at the international level the format is given less attention than it deserves."

"A one-off T20 match after a long series is similar to a consolation prize. T20, for a brief amount of time, takes the attention away from the other two formats at international level. T20, according to me, is as important as the other formats and, though fast paced, it tests a player's decision-making skills in an urgent situation," he explained.

"The beauty of the game lies in its pace. One wrong decision can cost you a whole match and it is exciting when that element of risk is involved in the game. To grow as a cricketer, one must learn how to switch between the three formats when required," he concluded.

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Indian skipper MS Dhoni on Wednesday, paid rich tribute to retired batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, who was conferred the Bharat Ratna, saying it is an honour well deserved for the "ideal role model".

Tendulkar, who was bestowed the honour on Tuesday by President Pranab Mukherjee, retired from all forms of cricket in November, playing his last and 200th Test in Mumbai against the West Indies.

"It is fantastic news. It has happened first time for a sportsperson," said Dhoni, ahead of the first Test against New Zealand, starting in Auckland on Thursday.

"We missed it to some extent, given that we are not in India. As a civilian, you cannot get a higher honour than this. He definitely deserves it. There is not anything too different one can say when talking about him," he added.

Dhoni lauded Tendulkar for his on-field exploits and off-field conduct.

"The way he has handled himself, not only on the field, but off the field as well, he is the ideal role model. The kind of pressures that are there in Indian cricket, he has handled them very well throughout his career.

"And the kind of performances he has given since the time he debuted, he has been fantastic. It is an honour well deserved," said Dhoni.

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A documentary charting the euphoria around final days of legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar in the game will be available on social media platforms, including Youtube from Saturday.

The film brings out people's emotions during Tendulkar's last Ranji Trophy encounter in Haryana and the final Test-series against the West Indies in November last year.

The documentary, prepared by sports journalist Jasvinder Sidhu, is called "Last Goodbye to 22 yards".

"This film is a tribute to the greatest cricketer the world has ever seen. This 38-minute film, subtitled in English, is like a documentary evidence of what exactly Sachin means to India," said Sidhu.

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Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has been named as the fifth most-admired person on the planet with Microsoft founder Bill Gates on top in a list of 30 people compiled after a poll in 13 countries, including India.
 
The ‘World’s most admired people poll’ was conducted by YouGov for The Times by surveying almost 14,000 people in Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia, the US, Australia, Pakistan, Indonesia, India, China, Egypt, Nigeria and Brazil.
 
Sportsmen featured highly in the affections of many across the world. After Tendulkar it was Argentina footballer Lionel Messi who was 15th followed by US basketball player Michael Jordon (21) and Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo (22). Pakistani cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan was 12th on the list.
 
There were four Indians in the top ten and seven overall in the list of 30 most-admired people.
 
Sachin, 40, was fifth with six other Indians featuring in the list – BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi (7th), Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan (9th), former President Abdul Kalam (10th), social activist Anna Hazare (14th), Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal (18th) and Business tycoon Ratan Tata (30th).
 
Gates, 58, the co-founder of Microsoft and a billionaire philanthropist, earned more admiration than US President Barack Obama who was second, Russian President Vladimir Putin (3rd), Pope Francis (4th) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (6th) to claim the title.
 
Some interesting choices in the list of 30 were Pope Francis, The Dalai Lama (13th), American business magnate Warren Buffet (8th), Queen Elizabeth (17th) and Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie (19th).
 
Surprisingly, there were just six women on the list of most admired people with Queen highest ranked among them. Other women to make it to the list were Jolie, US talk show host Oprah Winfrey (20th), German Chancellor Angela Merkel (26th), former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (27th) and Chinese contemporary folk singer Peng Liyuan (28th).
 
No Briton featured in the world’s top ten most-admired people. Stephen Hawking was placed highest, at 16th. Separate lists of the poll in different countries were also given by YouGov.
 
In the poll in India, as expected, Tendulkar topped the list but interestingly it was Obama who came in second followed by Modi, Gates and Bachchan.

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Sachin Tendulkar might have retired from all forms of cricket last month but the Indian batting legend says the feeling is yet to sink in that he would not playing the sport anymore.

"It still has not hit me yet that I am not going to play cricket anymore for India. But I manage to play with my son. It has been fun," Tendulkar told NDTV.

After nearly a quarter of a century of cricket, Tendulkar bade an emotional adieu to international cricket after playing his 200th Test against West Indies in Mumbai last month. "It has been hectic. There has been things happening around. Since last month, I have spent a fair amount of time with my family, which I was looking forward to it," he said.

"I enjoy watching cricket and so is my son and I know cricket cannot be far away from me," he said.

Tendulkar, who was awarded along with star actor Rajinikanth by NDTV for being among the top 25 living legends, said: "It has been a fantastic experience meeting him (Rajinikanth). What a man. There are many players who come to the Indian team from southern India. So there are unbelievable fans of Rajni sir and so am I. "It was a pity that I was not able to meet him earlier because I didn't have access to him. It was kind of him to meet me this morning. I am absolutely floored by his humility," the 40-year-old batting icon said.

"I was really happy to know that he watches cricket, we discussed about various matches like India-

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South African pacer Morne Morkel on Monday, fired the first salvo ahead of the two-match Test series, starting here December 18, stating that the young Indian batsmen will miss 'Sachin Tendulkar's patience' in the middle and they should be prepared to face some hostile bowling from the home side.

Morkel said it would be interesting to see how the young Indian batsmen cope with the South African pace battery now that the likes of Tendulkar are not in the visiting team.

"Sachin was a batsman who could bat for a long time. And he put the bowlers and the opposition under pressure by batting for a long time. He was the rock for their batting. He could bat with the top-order and the middle order both," said Morkel two days ahead of the first Test.

"These young Indian batsmen are quality players, but we can clearly see from the ODI series that they are attacking batsmen who like to come at the bowling. It will be interesting to see how they go about this," he added.

Tendulkar retired from all forms of cricket after playing his 200th Test against the West Indies in Mumbai last month. His departure left a huge void in the Indian team and that will be most visible when the Test series begins.

"Like I said, they are all very quality guys. Rohit Sharma has been scoring runs off late and Cheteshwar Pujara can bat for time at number three. Even Ravichandran Aswhin averages 40 at the back-end of their line-up. So we need to make use of the early morning conditions with the new ball. We need to be on the money from Wednesday itself, otherwise they can score quickly and at Wanderers, sometimes it can be a high scoring game," he said. Asked specifically if he left out Virat Kohli's name on purpose and that South Africa might not consider him a threat, Morkel was non-committal at best.

"Virat has done well in Australia and scored some runs when India toured there last. He is a quality player. But he is obviously going to slot into Sachin's role and he has got some big boots to fill. He can do it very well, don't take me wrong, but it is going to be a testing time for him at number four," Morkel said.

Though the Indian team management has made no official statements about who will bat at number four, Kohli has batted with Pujara in pairs at the open nets sessions on Friday and Sunday at Benoni.

In the first ODI, India were rattled by pace and bounce, losing the match by 141 runs. Things did change for the bowlers in the second ODI in Durban, where the bowlers restricted the opposition to 281 runs. Yet, the Indian batsmen failed to chase it down, losing by 136 runs eventually. Adapting to the conditions will be the key, considering that the Indians have had almost negligible practice in the build-up to this Test series. The batsmen, in particular, have suffered the most, as their last outing was in Durban. They have not batted in a competitive setting since, for the second innings in the third ODI at Centurion was washed out before the abandonment of the practice game in Benoni due to a wet outfield. "When I heard the news that they did not have even a ball at Benoni, I felt it will definitely be something in our favour," said Morkel.

"Because the pitch at Benoni can also be a bit tricky at times. I think that could have been good practice for them. So it is definitely some sort of bonus for us that they were stuck to indoor nets or open net-practice. Out there in the middle, it's a completely different ball game."

Morkel, however, felt his side should not be carried away by the listless show by the Indians so far in the South African tour. "The nature of the Wanderers' pitch is that is has always been bouncy and quick.

It can be a high scoring game, if the batsmen get in. So the margins for bowlers are definitely a bit smaller here, because of the ball coming onto the wicket and the outfield here. "It is going to be crucial how we use the pace and bounce. But we need not to get too carried away. The Indian bowlers struggled to find the right lengths in the first ODI and it takes some time to adapt to the conditions here. So we need to be smart about using the conditions as well," he added.

Despite the struggles in that first match of the tour here, the Indian team can gain heart from the fact that they did beat South Africa here in a Test match way back in 2006. Back then, under Rahul Dravid, S Sreesanth had taken eight wickets in two innings and Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman had scored half-centuries to script a first-ever Indian Test victory in this country. "2006 was a long time ago. We can only think about the current scenario and for South Africa, it is about getting a good start. We were a bit slow against Pakistan and that cost us a bit. For India, a lot has changed. They have no Rahul Dravid, no Tendulkar, no batsmen who can really build an innings. So it's a completely different ball game," Morkel said.

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Underlining the need for music schools for youngsters, Oscar-winning composer A R Rahman feels children across India should have access to proper music education.

Learning music is "not merely a side thing where you take tuitions in a house. If a kid wants to learn music, he deserves proper education in it," Rahman told PTI here.

The Academy Award winning composer, singer and producer was in the city to visit a flagship store in Manhattan for the leading global audio and infotainment group Harman International Industries.

A large number of Indians living in the area had lined up at the store to meet Rahman and take photographs with the music legend. Rahman was also gifted customized gold-plated JBL headphones by Harman International CEO Dinesh Paliwal during his visit to the store.

Harman had named Rahman its India Brand Ambassador for JBL by Harman's multi-year campaign.

Rahman, who founded KM Music Conservatory, a higher education institution focussed on music in 2008, said his efforts in setting up the music school has inspired people in India to "understand that education of music is very important".

"If a kid in a family of doctors wants to study music, it is his right to demand that and come to a school like the K M Conservatory," he said.

Rahman added that he had been offered to open similar music schools beyond India's borders in countries like Dubai and Malaysia but said he still needs to "perfect" the concept in India.

On whether he has plans to set up a music school in the US, Rahman said he might look at the possibility in future when he has more free time in hand.

"You cannot set up a school and let someone else manage it. You have to be passionate and be involved all the time, get constant feedback. That is my intention. For me a music school is like family, you cannot have kids and then say that they will grow up on their own. You need to take care of them. The same applies to a music school," he added.

Among the various projects Rahman is currently working on are Million Dollar Arm and Monkeys of Mumbai, which is DreamWorks Animation's first-ever Bollywood-style animated musical adventure.

The Grammy-award-winning musician said he is always on the lookout for projects that are not repetitive and drive him to deliver his best.

"At this stage of my life, the projects have to compel, drive me. That is the kind of projects I am selecting. It is important that I do not feel that I have done this before," he added.

Rahman, 47, who recently gave cricketer Sachin Tendulkar a guitar, said he will miss the batting legend on the field but said it was the right decision by Tendulkar to retire.

"Of course, I will miss him on the field. It is very emotional but at the same time it is good to go at such heights," he said.

"Life does not come to an end" with retirement and Tendulkar can continue to share his vast experience and knowledge about the game.

Rahman said Tendulkar was moving to a new house where he was setting up a music room. Rahman bought a guitar for Tendulkar who said he would take it if it has been signed by Rahman.

Tendulkar, who retired from cricket last month, counts the guitar gifted by Rahman among the memorable gifts he has received and has said that it is "dear to me."

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Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly on Monday said Sachin Tendulkar is India's 'Bharat Ratna' and deserves "every  bit" of the country's highest civilian award.

"Sachin is India's Bharat Ratna. I was happy to be there (at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai) when he played his last test match. This man has done it for 25 years. He deserves every bit of it (of the Bharat Ratna)," Ganguly told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

Replying to a query on the South African tour, he said, "I think they have picked a good team for the tour."

"India will have to bowl well to make an impact in the series and win it. Selectors have picked best bowling lineup. We have Zaheer's experience, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvaneswar Kumar, it is a good bowling team."

Asked to choose an impressive  bowler, he said "Shami has done exceptionally well. He has got pace. Pace does not come naturally and it is special to anyone."

Replying to another query, he said, "When I played for India, it was only cricket. Once you finish cricket you will have to start saying no. There are so many opportunities."

Asked about match-fixing in the game, he said, "I have never been involved in such a team. I look at good things. Every time when you look at wrong things in cricket, look at those who brought pride to the game. Indian cricket has too many good things."

To a query on who should bat at number four, the former captain said, "Dhoni should be thinking. I think it's going to be Virat Kohli at 4, Rohit Sharma at 5 and Dhoni needs to find someone for 6."

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Playing without Sachin Tendulkar in South Africa will be a big challenge : MS DhoniMahendra Singh Dhoni says playing in alien conditions and that too without Sachin Tendulkar is a big challenge for his side but the Indian skipper is hopeful that playing One—Day Internationals (ODI) first will allow his batsmen settle well ahead of the Test series against South Africa. India will play three—match ODI series ahead of two—Test series in South Africa.
 
“If you see there is always a new start,” Dhoni said about absence of Tendulkar, who retired recently last month.
 
Dhoni said his batsmen have plenty of experience in the shorter format of the game and playing ODIs first will give them confidence for the Tests.
 
“Many of them have had good exposure if not in Tests, but in ODIs. It is a new challenge for all of them and a new learning curve. It is always a challenge when you go outside.
 
Which length to bowl and to adjust to the bounce of the wickets. It is good to start with ODIs. As the batsmen can play their shots and express themselves and carry it into the Tests,” he said ahead of team departure.
 
Asked who will perform the duties of the third opener in Tests, which has only two regulars in Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay, Dhoni surprised everyone by naming Gautam Gambhir, who is not part of the 17—member squad.
 
“If you see, Gautam is definitely our third opener that we are considering. As of now, Vijay and Shikhar they have done really well for us. So third opener as of now is Gautam.”
 
Later he clarified, “I know (Gambhir not being in team) but he is the third opener. But he never asked if he is part of the team.”
 
Nevertheless, the statement by Dhoni makes it clear that Gambhir is still in the scheme of things for at least Test side. Asked who was likely to replace Tendulkar at number four in the Test squad, Dhoni they are to yet to decide on that.
 
“We are not decided on number 4. No one is going to replace anyone else,” he said before adding in lighter vein, “If possible we will omit the number 4. And try to bat 1,2,3, 5,6… and 12.”
 
Bowling in slog overs has been a worry for India but Dhoni was hopeful of a better performance in South Africa.
 
“In different conditions the statistics would be different. There will be pace and bounce on offer for the fast bowlers. Along with the yorkers, they can use bouncers and a little bit pace. So we will see how it goes,” he said.
 
“In the last few matches it has improved a lot but we are trying to see how to improve (more), so that we don’t give lot of runs in the last 10 overs. If you see our Champions Trophy performance and if you compare our death bowling you will see that it is a completely different scenario.
 
“The ideal would be to compare how the Indian bowlers performed in the last 10 overs and how Australian bowlers performed in the death overs in the same game. Then it becomes more realistic.”
 
Dhoni said fans will see good cricket in the series as top two sides in the world will be up against each other.
 
“If you see both the teams are well positioned in the rankings. In ODIs it is us and in Tests it is they. It is going to be exciting and interesting series. The key is getting adjusted to conditions as early as possible,” Dhoni said.
 
“They have a very good team, well balanced team, with genuine all—rounders,” he said.
 
Dhoni said pressure was nothing new to India. “Pressure goes hand in hand whether in India or away.”
 
Asked if the team would use a fifth frontline bowler, Dhoni said it would be decided later. “Well it’s something that we have to go there and decide.
 
We have to see the strength of our batting line up. At the same time whether four bowlers are good enough to get the opposition out. It’s something that we have weigh out,” he said.
 
“In the last Test match also we played with four bowlers and Rohit Sharma was the one who batted at number six. If you see at times five batsmen are not enough, even six are not enough. And if you see the last two Test matches, the number six batsman has had a lot of impact on the game. We will weigh how it is and then decide.”
 
Asked about Ravichandran Ashwin‘s limited exposure of playing Tests overseas, Dhoni expressed hope that the off-spinner will replicate his home success abroad.
 
“Everybody starts from scratch, even the greatest of cricketers—spinner or fast bowler. They always start from scratch. We have to see, may be he turns out to be brilliant outside India. He may become better than what he already has been in India. Unless you go out there and fight it out, you don’t really get to know how good he is,” said Dhoni.
 
Ashwin has played only three Tests overseas —all in Australia —with limited success in his short career of 18 Tests from which he has grabbed 104 wickets. Asked what would be the role of pacer Ishant Sharma, Dhoni said “let it remain a secret recipe”.

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Mumbai Cricket Association, which honoured Sachin Tendulkar by naming its Kandivali facility for him earlier this month, is going to felicitate him again next week at a function at its Bandra-Kurla Complex ground in Mumbai.

"We are going to honour Sachin Tendulkar at our BKC complex on December 3 and the function would be presided over by Union Agriculture Minister and former president of ICC and BCCI, Mr Sharad Pawar. We will be presenting Sachin with a painting which was not given earlier," said MCA's vice president Ravi Savant on Saturday.

"We are also going to felicitate Prithvi Shaw for his feat for scoring 546 in school cricket as well as the young boy Mushir Ahmed Khan who has taken 20 wickets in the Kanga League (G division) in the presence of Sachin to encourage them," Savant said.

Tendulkar was felicitated at the Kandivali facility of MCA on November 11 before he signed off from cricket by playing in his 200th and last Test against the West Indies at Wankhede Stadium.

Savant also said that the official unveiling of the BKC facility named for Pawar would also be held on the same day.

"We are going to invite all our club representatives, former Ranji and Test cricketers and the media."

Savant also said that chemistry professor and Ramnarain Ruia College principal Suhas Pednekar, who is the recipient of this year's Tata Chemicals Best Teachers award, too would be felicitated on this occasion.

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Former Sri Lankan explosive batsman Sanath Jayasuriya on Saturday said that Sachin Tendulkar is the best player he has seen.
 
“Everyone knows what Sachin has done for cricket and for India. He is one player who is dedicated, committed and played with passion. I had played along with him for three years in Mumbai Indians and found him to be a very simple man and easy to approach,” Jayasuriya said.
 
The former Sri Lanka captain is here as the chief guest of a cricket tournament organised by the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club.
 
Commenting on Twenty20 cricket, Jayasuriya said that the format has its own pluses and minuses.
 
“The good thing is that natural cricketers will grow fast while some others can find it difficult,” said the 44-year-old.
 
The left handed batsman denied media reports suggesting there are ego clashes between the present crop of senior players in the appointment of former batsman Marvan Atapattu as the coach of the Sri Lanka side.
 
“This same issue was raised when I was appointed as chairman of selectors a few years back because there were several players with whom I played. There are no ego clashes in our team and it’s not an issue if the coach should be a foreign one or from the country. The main thing is that there should be a proper coach,” added Jayasuriya, who is currently a deputy minister in Sri Lanka.
 
The former all-rounder also wished that when it comes to cricket, there should be a line drawn when it comes to on-field activity and discipline.
 
“Yes, the present Australian cricket team is a determined lot after suffering defeats in the previous Ashes and hence they are aggressive. The line should not be breached as far as discipline on the field is concerned,” said Jayasuriya.
 
On his new role as a politician, he said he is enjoying every bit of it and is coming to terms with the job.
 
“I am enjoying the job of working for my people as it’s going to be three years now, I am getting used to it. I am helping my people and doing my best to see my area is developing,” said Jayasuriya.

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Welcoming the government's move to confer Bharat Ratna on Sachin Tendulkar, legendary athlete Milkha Singh on Saturday said the just-retired cricketer deserved the honour as he has been a role model of the youth in the country.

Milkha said that despite being such a phenomenally successful cricketer, Tendulkar remained grounded as a man of immense humility and that sets him apart from other great sportspersons.

"He (Tendulkar) has been a role model. I have met Sachin Tendulkar several times and whenever I see him, I was amazed at his humility. Despite his immense success as a sportsperson, he remained grounded. His success did not go into his head. That sets him apart (from other successful sportspersons)," Milkha, who missed out of on a bronze in the 400m race in 1960 Rome Olympics by a whisker, said.

He was speaking to reporters after a programme at the Genesis Global School in Noida where he had an interaction with students on the topic 'No Pain No Gain'.

Milkha, however, said it would have been better had the government conferred the Bharat Ratna on hockey wizard Dhyan Chand before Tendulkar.

"I am happy that Tendulkar has been conferred the Bharat Ratna. But personally, I feel that Dhyan Chand should have been the first recipient as he was the one who put India on the international sporting map," said Milkha, who represented the country in three Olympics and won four gold medals in the Asian Games (in 1958 and 1962).

"Dhyan Chand should now be given the Bharat Ratna," he added.

Nonetheless, Milkha said that conferring the Bharat Ratna has opened the door for other sportspersons.

"After the Bharat Ratna to Tendulkar, now the door has been opened for other sportspersons. They can now aspire to win the country's highest civilian award," he said.

The 'Flying Sikh' even went step further, saying that sportspersons should henceforth be appointed as Governor and Ambassador.

"There are lots of well-read and intelligent sportspersons and they should be appointed as Governor of states and Ambassadors. If politicians or retired bureaucrats could be appointed as Governors and Ambassador, why can't the sportspersons be considered for such posts?" Milkha asked.

Milkha is not exactly a fan of cricket as he felt the country's media paid too much emphasis on the game, but said that the administrators of national sports federations of Olympic sports should follow the BCCI officials on how to popularise their respective sports and take care of athletes.

"I always said that the media has given too much emphasis on cricket. But I must say that the officials of our NSFs and the IOA should follow their BCCI counterparts. The BCCI has taken care of cricketers really well."

Milkha rued that more than 50 years after his exploits, the country has not been able to produce another athlete who can measure up to his sporting achievements.

"The country has everything now, money and facilities, but in the last more than 50 years we have not been able to produce another Milkha Singh. I don't see any track and field athlete now who can win an Olympic medal in the next two Olympics," he said.

"I feel there is something lacking. May be hard work is lacking among our current generation athletes or it could be due to the fault of federation officials.

"There is no substitute to hard work. Pursue your dreams with hard work and dedication," he advised the students.

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Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar's 200th Test in his farewell series against the West Indies has emerged as the highest rated Test match on television in India in the past eight years.

The match at the Wankhede Stadium here garnered 1739 average TVTs which remain unmatched since 2005. The two-Test series was showcased on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2 and Star Sports HD1 in English while Star Sports 3 showcased the match in Hindi.

The series was also streamed live on www.starsports.com. Star Sports network channels together had the maximum channel share across all genres during six playing days of the Test series. www.starsports.com attracted 3.5 million visitors during the two matches.

"We are delighted with the ratings. We are humbled that maestro's farewell series was played on our network and wanted to give him a befitting farewell. I am happy to note that cricket fans have appreciated our efforts," said Nitin Kukreja, Head of Sports Business, Star India.

"Our strategic investment in the Hindi language feed over the past year or so is now paying us huge dividends. We will continue in our endeavour to promote sports culture in the country," added Kukreja.

The sports broadcaster launched a 360 degree initiative involving interesting programming, innovative production, disruptive marketing to add buzz around Mastero's farewell series.

The broadcaster launched as many as three high-quality programs to engage deeper with the cricket fan who was immersed in Sachin mania.

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Former India captain Anil Kumble on Wednesday said that he was proud of having played with Sachin Tendulkar who was recently conferred with the Bharat Ratna.

"I am extremely proud that I played with the Bharat Ratna (Tendulkar). Certainly he deserves a truly rich award," Kumble told reporters here.

Kumble said Tendulkar's contribution on and off the field have been immense.

He said Tendulkar should be allowed to spend some time with his family, after so much of travelling for the last 24 years, playing cricket.

Kumble expressed regret at not attending the farewell Test of Tendulkar at Wankhede stadium as he was busy with some work related to Karnataka State Cricket Association elections.

"I couldn't make it to Wankhede as I was busy filing nominations. I told Tendulkar I would be present at the stadium on fourth day but unfortunately the match folded on third day," he said.

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He has had many special memories of Sachin Tendulkar and understandably for Gautam Gambhir the batting legend will always remain a "true role model" whose humility makes him a special person.

Gambhir, who shared the hallowed Indian dressing room with Tendulkar for a very long time, is in awe of the iconic batsman's contribution to the gentleman's game.

"Sachin is not only my true role model but he is a role model for the entire world. His humility speaks volumes about his character. His humility makes him the kind of person he is," Gambhir told reporters at a promotional event here today.

Presently out of the Indian team, Gambhir was not a part of Tendulkar's farewell celebrations in the second Test against the West Indies in Mumbai last week, but the left-handed opener said he had plenty of memories of Tendulkar to cherish.

"My best memory of Tendulkar was when we won the 2011 World Cup. Knowing that it was Tendulkar's last World Cup we were determined to win the trophy for him and we managed to do that, so it became more special," he said.

"I also remember mine and Tendulkar's big partnership in a Test at Napier during the 2009 New Zealand tour. We batted for long to save the Test for India.

"Another fond memory of Tendulkar was when we batted together for a century partnership at Cape Town during the 2010-11 South Africa tour," Gambhir recalled.

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Malayalam superstar Mohanlal is impressed with Sachin Tendulkar's speech at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai last week and says the legend has set an example for generations to come.

Mohanlal, who took to his blog to express his views on the speech and posted a write up titled "An enlightening Swan song at Wankhede," missed the speech on November 16 due to work commitments.

"I read it the next day and it came to light that just like the beginning, the ending is also very important," wrote Mohanlal, known for memorable films like Vanaprastham, Bharatham, Manichithra Thaazhu, Chithram and Kireetam.

"What he spoke is just not limited to one profession, as there is a lot to learn for professionals from diverse sectors," he wrote.

Soon after Tendulkar finished playing his last match, the government announced the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour of the country, for the 40-year-old.

Sachin dedicated it to all the mothers in India - and especially his own mother Rajni Tendulkar.

Mohanlal says that those who don't care about their parents should learn a lesson from Tendulkar and realise that there's no success without a mother's blessing.

"His speech should now be taught in schools as this will be a morale booster for the children," wrote the superstar.

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He has stowed away on trains and paddled his way to cricket venues but for a passionate Sudhir Chaudhary, one of the greatest fans of Sachin Tendulkar, the retirement of his "god" and legendary batsman will not stop him from cheering the Indian team in future.

The 32-year-old has devoted his life to Tendulkar and followed him everywhere to watch his icon bat, not only in India, but sometimes pedalling his way to Bangladesh to witness a cricket match in 2007 and Lahore, Pakistan in 2006.

"I have dedicated my life to Sachin sir. I will continue to waive tri-colour in every match India play at home. 'Miss U Tendulkar 10' will be written on my back," Sudhir told PTI Bhasha from Kochi, where he will be seen cheering Team India in the first ODI against West Indies on Thursday.

"I will never let his absence felt on the ground till my last breath. I will keep cheering the team with tri-colour painted on my body as always," he said.

Sudhir is usually seen with his body painted in the tri-colour, waving the national flag and blowing the conch shell during cricket matches.

Sudhir said when Tendulkar made his way to the dressing room for the last time, he could not stop himself from crying.

"I could not control myself and cried a lot. When he was delivering his farewell speech, I stood in one corner of the ground and cried. He told me to attend his press conference the next day but the hall was so crowded that I could not meet him," said Sudhir to whom Tendulkar had given a pair of sports shoes as souvenir just before his retirement.

"I will meet Sachin sir after returning from Kochi. He is like a living god for me," he added. Tendulkar had invited Sudhir into the dressing room after India's World Cup win in 2011 at home to be pictured with him and the trophy, which made the thinly-built from Muzaffarpur, Bihar famous.

Tendulkar had also ensured Sudhir's entry into the ground during the prize distribution ceremony and his lap of honour after playing his final and 200th Test in the international arena.

"I can never forget that moment (with Tendulkar and World Cup trophy). Sachin sir has given me the memory of my lifetime. I am only one of his millions fans but it was so nice of him to do that for me. He is not only a great player but is a great human being as well," he said.

"Cricket is like oxygen for Sachin sir and I am sure he will comeback in some other capacity to serve the game. I am waiting for that day and will continue to cheer him," he said.

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Describing Sachin Tendulkar as his childhood "hero", England batsman Ian Bell has said that he grew up idolising the legendary batsman and it was a privilege to have shared the same field with the just-retired cricketer.

"The mental side of his game was very important. Obviously, when I played against him he had been playing the game at the highest level for 15 years. I grew up idolising him and he was a real hero of mine," said Bell.

"I feel very lucky and privileged to have shared the same field as him and played against him," he added.

Bell said Tendulkar was probably the only batsman in the world who could change the whole atmosphere of the ground.

"To play against Sachin was incredible. I am not sure there will ever be another Sachin Tendulkar. You knew that wherever you played against him, in England or India, when he came out to bat the whole atmosphere of the ground changed. There's not many players around the world who can do that," Bell was quoted as saying by 'The Daily Telegraph'.

Bell, who is preparing for the first Ashes Test, commencing here on Thursday, said the recently retired Indian icon would be immensely missed.

"You just know watching him, just watching him go about his business, he was a genius in the game, someone who will be really missed. Obviously, he will never be forgotten but he will be missed. A great player and a pleasure to play against," said the England batsman.

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Sprint superstar Yohan Blake says his "childhood hero" Sachin Tendulkar's humility has touched many people around the world and the batting legend has left an ever-lasting legacy for everyone to follow.

The Jamaican sprinter said it was an "honour" for him to speak about Tendulkar, whose popularity transcends boundaries.

Paying tribute to the batting maestro, who brought the curtains down on his glittering career after playing his 200th Test last week, Blake said it was amazing to see Tendulkar maintaining humility all these years.

"I want to say that he has left a legacy for everyone to follow. He is a humble man who has touched many people around the world. I hope they will follow in his footsteps," Blake told PTI in an exclusive interview.

Double silver medallist at the London Olympics, Blake is an ardent follower of cricket like his senior pro and fastest man on the earth, Usain Bolt - the first man to win six Olympic gold medals in sprinting.

The 23-year-old athlete is a big fan of Tendulkar and it has been his dream to bowl to Indian batting great at least once.

"I remember the first time I was given the opportunity to speak to him, I told him that I wanted to bowl to you. I felt so honoured because Sachin is truly one of my childhood heroes," he said.

Blake takes time off from his busy schedule to follow whenever Tendulkar is batting and has a collection of the maestro's DVDs which he watches on and off.

Asked how he feels about his icon retiring from the game, Yohan said, "When he announced his retirement, I said to myself it is sad that good things must come to an end. He has done so much not just for his country but for the world."

Blake always keeps himself informed about India and cricket through his country-mate and West Indies destructive opener Chris Gayle, who plays in the Indian Premier League for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

He had even expressed his desire to play in the IPL after completing his 200m silver medal run at the London Olympic stadium and had said 'Once I get the chance to play, I can even get out Sachin'.

Blake saluted the champion batsman for the sheer amount of runs he has scored and his longevity.

"For a man to go out with 200 Test matches under his belt and over 15,000 runs, I have to salute him for that."

"I wish him the best with his life after cricket. I bid him farewell and thank him for all he has done to inspire me and so many others," he added.

Tendulkar bowed out as the most successful batsman in international cricket with 15,921 runs in 200 Tests. In his ODI career, which ended last year, the Mumbaikar amassed 18,426 runs in 463 matches.

Tendulkar is the only batsman in international cricket to score 100 centuries. He was the first batsman to get a double hundred in one-dayers.

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A temple for Sachin Tendulkar came up on Tuesday in a Bihar village with a life-sized statue of the cricketer.

The white marble statue was erected amid the chanting of Vedic prayers in Atarwalia, the village of Bhojpuri film star Manoj Tiwari in Kaimur district.

"It is a small gesture for the 'God of Cricket'," Tiwari told media in the village, about 100 km from here. (Pics: Amul's Top 10 tributes to Sachin)

Tiwari said Tendulkar, who played his last cricket match for India against West Indies in Mumbai, was "an incarnation of God in the world of cricket".

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