PHOTOS: Fans wish Tendulkar on 41st birthday

India's batting icon Sachin Tendulkar turned 41 on Thursday and is celebrating his birthday in his home town Mumbai in the midst of Indian Premier League action in the United Arab Emirates after being with his franchise Mumbai Indians in the initial phase of the T20 league.

Tendulkar, who was named as the Mumbai Indians 'icon' for IPL 7, had returned from the UAE two days ago, according to sources close to him, and would be celebrating his birthday with his family and close.

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He also proved himself as a responsible Indian after casting his vote during the Mumbai Elections earlier in the day along with his wife Anjali.

"I have voted, have you? A wonderful start to my birthday, as a responsible citizen of our great nation", Tendulkar wrote on Twitter, while urging the citizens to go out and vote.

This is the first birthday for the cricket great after his retirement from cricket in November 2013 after playing his 200th and final Test at his home ground, Wankhede Stadium, in Mumbai against the West Indies.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India had hastily arranged the two-match Test series against the West Indies to give a befitting send-off to the legend.

A jam-packed audience gave Tendulkar a rousing adieu and the cricketer himself was emotional as he gave a stirring speech watched by his adoring fans in the crowd and by million others on TV after going to the middle of the pitch and paying obeisance to it in a symbolic gesture that touched the hearts of one and all.

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Tendulkar hung up his boots after a glittering international career that saw him amass 15,921 runs in Tests, at an average of 53.78, and 18426 runs in 463 ODIs at an average of 44.83.

He had scored 100 centuries during his international career with Test matches accounting for 51 of those, the most by any batsman in the world. He was the part of 2011 World Cup winning squad captained by Mahendra Singh Dhoni. His 49 ODI tons is also a world record.

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The Bharat Ratna recipient, the first Indian sports person to get the highest civilian honour, has been seen in public on very few occasions after his retirement.

However, as a sign that he has got other interests after quitting cricket as a player, he has now got involved in the IPL-style football league promoted by Mumbai Indians's owners Reliance Industries and IMG with the backing of the All India Football Federation.

A Rajya Sabha member, Tendulkar is now the joint owner of the Kochi franchise of the team in the Indian Soccer League and has stated his intention that he will ever remain a sportsman at heart.

"I will always remain a sportsman at heart who is keen to positively impact the sporting fabric of the nation. The Indian Super League presents a great opportunity to develop a platform for the youngsters to learn and enhance their talent to develop into outstanding players.

"It has been an interesting experience interacting with the young, passionate team at PVP Ventures led by Prasad Potluri. Based on the various insights shared by the team, the opportunity of the Kochi club seemed like a compelling and challenging proposition. With the Kochi club, we will strive to 'score our goals' and play a part in developing the game of football across the country," Tendulkar had said when the winning bids for various franchise were announced earlier this month.

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Tendulkar will lead the Marylebone Cricket Club against the Rest of the World XI, to be captained by his former rival and friend – Australian leg-spin great Shane Warne – in the Bicentenary 50-over celebratory match on July 5 at Lord's in London.

Tendulkar and Warne are both honorary Life Members of MCC.

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