'I Want To Play Elder Brother'

Seventeen years of international cricket have taken a toll on SachinTendulkar but the batting maestro wants to continue playing in both formats ofcricket -- Tests and ODIs.

Tendulkar says he is still enjoying the challenges thrown up by the shorterand longer versions of the game and has not thought of quitting any of the twoto extend his international career.

"I have not thought of this. I always believe in putting all my effortsin both forms of the game. One-day games are also equally important as Testmatches," he said in an exclusive interview.

"I like the challenges under pressure situations in limited-over gamesand similarly when you negotiate the good spells of rival bowlers in Testmatches", says the 33-year-old star batsman who has scored 10,469 runs in132 Tests and 14,146 runs in 362 ODIs.

Asked whether retirement was on his mind, he said, "I have not thoughtof it as yet and will plan when I have to cross the bridge."

Tendulkar, who opted out of the Test series against the West Indies yesterdayafter failing to recover fully from a shoulder injury, is now keen to play therole of an "elder brother" to India's new match winners.

Undaunted by the numerous injuries that have plagued his career of late,world cricket's senior statesman wants to add value to Team India through hisnurturing skills and see it win more and more matches in the process.

Tendulkar attributes India's recent success in one-dayers to the emergence ofa new breed of match winners in the team which, he says, has made a hugedifference.

"The difference that we see today is that we have more match winningplayers in the team and this should augur well for winning more matches andseries, besides tournaments in the near future.

"It is just the fact that we have talented players, besidescontributions of the support staff of Greg (Chappell), King (Gregory), John (Gloster),Ian Frazer and others for the success rate of the team," he explains.

The combination of both the talent of the players and the commendable jobdone by the support staff has contributed to the present performance graph ofthe team, he points out.

As a role model and a senior in the team, how does he gel with theyoungsters?

"I move with them like an elder brother. All of us gel perfectly and getalong well. While we are together, the atmosphere is like one family. Underpressure situations, we feel the togetherness much more and always work as oneteam. Everyday, while on tours or playing at home, passes off with memorableexperiences," he says.

Tendulkar admits the appointment of Chappell as coach has added value to notonly his game but also to all the others in the team.

"Somebody who has been around for a long long time has to provide valueto each and every player in the team. Greg has been in the game as a player,captain and otherwise for 40 years.

"He himself was such a top player and the way he approaches the game,his thought process in analysing the game has been remarkable. He has definitelyadded value to not only my game but also to all the others in the team."

The ace batsman said he often got "new ideas" talking to a personof Chappell's stature and his interaction with the coach had been beneficial inmatch situations.

"Greg and I do discuss about these things and mental aspects of players.Interaction on such matters with Greg is always good and a positive thing to do.

"In fact, one does get new ideas talking to a person of Greg's statureand it definitely helps in actual match situations," says Tendulkar, whohas a world record 35 Test centuries to his credit.

And like Chappell, does he believe that cricket is also played in the mind oris it a myth?

"Yes, it is true and not a myth. The mind is equally important forpositive results. Like Greg, I am also a believer of mind apart from myabilities. All these factors do help in a player's performance," hereplies.

Is he embarrassed when he is referred to as a 'demi-God' by cricket fans?

"I am not a demi-God and I am not at all embarrassed of anything. Ialways feel happy about the brotherhood and faith that my countrymen have in me.I enjoy every moment of such support from them. I take pleasure in bringingsmiles to millions of my brothers and sisters and supporters. It is a God givengift to me," Tendulkar says.

On whether the smooth functioning of the Board could help the team to performbetter, he says "These are two separate issues. I do not have any knowledgeabout administration.

"Hopefully, the Board officials know what are the right things to do.We, the players, should worry about what are the rights things to do on thefield. Interference of any side is not good because administration is aspecified job and playing cricket is yet another specified job."

Tendulkar acknowledges the role played by his family in shaping his careerand supporting him in difficult times. He cites the 1999 World Cup in England,when his father passed away, as an example.

"That particular decision was very tough. I credit everything to thesupport extended by my family members during my father's death. I derivestrength because I take pride to be an Indian and I always prioritise Indiaahead of everything that I do.

"To me the nation comes first and I am fully focussed towards these whenI walk in to the field of play. These things have strongly set in my mind andhelp in my will power to be totally focussed and committed," he says.

PTI