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Tendulkar focuses on enjoying the game
Millions across the globe have been waiting for his historic 100th international century but Sachin Tendulkar says that he would prefer to just enjoy the game without thinking much about the hype surrounding the landmark.
"Well, it is easier said than done. It is just a number. But yes, I mean, there has been lot of hype around that and I want to enjoy cricket and I think that is important," Tendulkar told Channel Nine in an interview.
"In the series, obviously focus would be on enjoying cricket and winning," the iconic batsman said.
Tendulkar scored his 99th international century in Nagpur against South Africa in March last year during the World Cup.
Incidentally, his last Test hundred was also against the Proteas at Cape Town in January, last year.
'My preparation starts a week before the game'
India is currently locked in a four-Test series against Australia with the second match heavily tilted in favour of the hosts after the second day's play in Sydney.
Asked how he prepares for a match, Tendulkar said his preparations start much before the game.
"I just pack my bags on the eve of the match. For me, the preparation starts may be a week before the game, if there is not much time between the matches, then you equally need to switch off and switch on before the game. So it depends on the time I have before a game," he said.
Tendulkar has broken almost all records in international cricket but the champion batsman said ever since he picked up his cricket bat, it has been a fantastic journey and his love of the game also remains the same.
"I don't remember picking up a cricket bat the first time. I must have been 4 or 5 years old, like just any other child in India", Tendulkar said.
'Scoring the first hundred was the most defining moment of my life'
"It is fun to pick up a bat and hit the ball as hard as possible and that passion and love for cricket grew as time went by and it has been a fantastic journey and still madly in love with the sport."
Asked about his first experience of playing international cricket, Tendulkar said: "It was quite an experience to remember. Well, I got out after scoring 15 runs and thought, probably, I was not good enough to play at this level and I was just hoping that I get another opportunity."
He has been playing international cricket for the last two decades and Tendulkar said the most defining moment of his life was the phase when he first read his name in the newspapers after his performance in school-level cricket.
"I was about 11 years old. I scored some runs. I scored 24 runs in my first match and then followed that up with a couple of performances, nothing great, but my name came in the newspaper couple of times," Tendulkar recollected.
"When I saw that, it changed everything. The first hundred that I scored changed everything and I would say that phase was the most defining moment of my life."