Sachin delighted with new IAF (Group Captain) role

Sachin Tendulkar addressing spectators

NEW DELHI: Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar today found himself in the swarm of men in blue. He was not in the company of his cricket teammates. These were the air warriors who enthusiastically cheered beginning of batting maestro’s new innings as group captain of the Indian Air Force.

Tendulkar is the first sportsperson to be conferred a rank by IAF and the first personality with no aviation background to receive the honour.

In 2008, India's World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev had received the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the Territorial Army.
After air chief marshal P.V Naik conferred honorary rank on Tendulkar, who had smartly turned up in IAF’s sky blue uniform, the cricket legend revoked childhood memories surrounding Top Gun and his fascination for speed and fighter jets.
Immediately after getting the rank, the new brand ambassador had twin tasks at hand — defending cricket’s tarnished image and inspiring confidence in youngsters.

Cricket should head in the right direction: Tendulkar

Tendulkar addressing the media

New Delhi: Senior India batsman Sachin Tendulkar on Tuesday said that people bringing disgrace to the game makes him sad as it leaves a bad impression on cricket, which should always head in the right direction.

Source: Yahoo Buzz

"Yes. It doesn't leave a good impression about cricket and cricketers. It is something one would like to erase and make sure cricket heads in the right direction so that it helps cricket to grow across the globe," Tendulkar said.

World Cricket has recently being marred by a spot-fixing scandal after a British tabloid exposed a fixer predicting no-balls bowled by Pakistani bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir for taking cash on camera.

Tendulkar set to become most capped cricketer overtaking former Australia captain

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sachin Tendulkar is set to become the most capped Test cricketer when India plays Sri Lanka in the third and final match on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old batting great, who is the most prolific scorer in both Tests and one-day internationals and who has the most number of centuries in both versions, will surpass former Australia captain Steve Waugh when he plays his 169th Test.

"It has been a long journey. The 169th Test. I still remember the first Test match that I played in Pakistan," Tendulkar said Monday. "Very happy that I have had the privilege of such a long journey at international level and this was my dream. To play for India was my dream and getting to play 169 Test matches is fantastic."

Tendulkar helped in overcoming nervousness: Raina

Suresh Raina enjoying his maiden test century in his debuntant

Colombo: After notching up a century on his debut, Suresh Raina on Thursday said he was nervous when he took guard but Sachin Tendukar's pep talk helped him overcome the initial jitters.
Raina with his 120-run knock against Sri Lanka also became the first Indian cricketer to have scored a hundred in all formats of the game.
"Yes I was nervous when I came to bat but Sachin said just enjoy yourself, this moment will never come, you are playing your first Test match, just enjoy," Raina said after fourth day's play.

Tendulkar hits his fifth double century in tests

Sachin Tendulkar reached his fifth double century

Normal service resumed on the fourth day with bat dominating ball on a placid pitch after Sri Lanka's spinners had injected some life into the Test on the third. India all but ensured a draw as they closed in on the Sri Lankan first-innings score, with Sachin Tendulkar and Suresh Raina adding to an exhaustive list of milestones achieved in this game. Tendulkar eased to his fifth double-century while Raina became only the second Indian batsman, after Virender Sehwag, to score a hundred on debut this decade.