It feels nice to be loved, says Sachin

Sachin Tendulkar Interview

On the eve of his birthday, Indian cricket legend Tendulkar opens up on his early life, family and the other personalities who have made his life special

Mid-day Online

B`days were exciting in your youth?

Not really. There were no big celebrations. Normal cake cutting would happen; no big parties, only limited friends were called.

Mid-day Online

Any birthday gifts you have treasured?

This was not a birthday gift, but my sister [Savita] had gone to Kashmir and brought back a Kashmir willow bat for me. That was the first proper bat I had.

Mid-day Online

What have you inherited from father?

His nature. He was always calm, solution-oriented. Distant relatives and his cousin brothers, who lived in Pune, would call him for any advice.

Mid-day Online

And from your mother?

Grit. My mother is mentally very, very strong and hardworking. She worked for LIC [Life Insurance Corporation] in Santacruz.

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Do you admire Nelson Mandela?

Oh yeah… 100 per cent. But why I mentioned Mother Teresa was because even while I was playing cricket as a kid, we kept seeing something about her on TV.

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A favourite Shah Rukh Khan movie?

A new movie in which he had acted was out, I’d watch it. I would listen to the songs of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge on the way to Anjali’s house and Wankhede.

Mid-day Online