Revealed: The human side of cricketing God

Many a time his mother and wife are at the receiving end of his occasional outbursts, the batting maestro himself revealed at a function here this evening.

Speaking after releasing a collection of poems penned by his brother Nitin and a CD containing Marathi poems written by his father late Ramesh Tendulkar, the champion batsman said sometimes he does get angry on the field.

"But you have to control your temper on the ground as you are representing India. Sometimes I take out frustration in the dressing room. Many times there are situations when decisions go against you and the match is lost. It has happened many times, but I don't need to take the name of umpires," the 37-year-old veteran of 177 Tests said.

Asked whether he fears his mother or wife's temper, the master blaster said actually they fear his anger. "I don't react on the ground. But I give vent to my feeling at home."
Tendulkar, who at times became emotional, recalled his formative years in Shardasram School at Dadar and thanked his aunt and uncle with whom he stayed for a few years.
"I would stay with my aunt and uncle at Shivaji Park when I was in VIII standard as otherwise I had to change two buses in the morning to reach the school from my residence at Bandra. Going to school and practising cricket was tiring.

"I used to get exhausted sometimes and sleep without taking food. I will never forget what they did for me. They fed me while I felt sleepy and also massaged my feet. I take this opportunity to thank them," he said in an emotionally-choked voice.

Responding to reports about his proposed sortie in Sukhoi as mooted by Indian Air Force, the little champion said it would be a great honour to sit in the fighter jet.

"I have a passion for speed. In 1996, I sat in a fighter plane in South Africa. I will definitely fly in Sukhoi. It would be an honour."

Asked whether he felt like writing poem while watching stylish batsmen V V S Laxman and Brian Lara in action, Tendulkar said, "I think their batting is poetry in motion itself. You just sit back and enjoy. But the most important thing I want to say is that I am son of a poet and also brother of a poet."