T20: Sachin Tendulkar

He is the drug every Indian is addicted to. Generations can testify to his splendour. When he walks out to bat, a million voices unite. For twenty years we have known the miracle by one name: Sachin Tendulkar.

Sachin on his father
My father, who died in 1999, was never a cricket fan, not at all. He was a writer and a poet: he taught Marathi, my mother tongue, at the local university. But he understood exactly how to get the best out of me. He always encouraged me and told my mother that he had full faith in me. It was probably reverse psychology, but as I got older I felt like I could not misuse that trust. He warned me against taking short cuts and told me to just keep playing, despite the ups and downs. My parents taught me that it is important to live every day of your life with grace and honour.When it came to choosing between cricket and going to university, he said: "You can play cricket, I know that is your first love, so go for it."

Sachin on cricket
Cricket is something very, very special to me. It has never been about owning this or that car and the other things that come with this life.. An obsession with money or worldly matters was always thumbed down. My only dream was to wear the Indian cap and the Indian colours. In that respect, my childhood dreams have come true.....

Sachin on children and God
Having children brings back all my old childhood memories, wonderful years. Now, every minute is measured and calculated. I still dream -- without dreams, life is flat, you stagnate. I don't go to the temple every morning, but I do pray. I thank God for everything he has given me, because life has been very good to me.

Sachin on music
I myself want to learn to play the guitar because I just love music and I want to learn to play at least one good musical instrument.

Sachin on McEnroe
I was the only one supporting John McEnroe -- everyone used to call me 'Mac' because I styled myself on him. I made my father buy me the same headbands and sweatbands and even grew my hair long. You wouldn't believe the pictures of me from that time. I was also extremely naughty. Very, very difficult to handle. ...I had a nanny who used to run after me virtually 24 hours a day, because I never wanted to go home.

Sachin on Pakistan
'Beating Pakistan is always special because they are a tough team and we have a bit of a history regarding Pakistan.'