My son wants to lock all stadiums: Sachin

A reticent man, especially when it comes to his personal life, Tendulkar on this occasion talked his heart out to Nupur Mahajan Sinh.

Sachin Tendulkar is a private man. But even private men have emotions. And these occasionally override their need to be guarded. The result is that sometimes, they speak with more openness than usual.

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That’s what happened when we met Tendulkar, 33, at the Mumbai Cricket Association’s new centre in Bandra-Kurla Complex recently. A reticent man, especially when it comes to his personal life, Tendulkar on this occasion talked his heart out.

From son Arjun wanting to “lock up all the cricket stadiums” so that he could spend more time with dad to wife Anjali’s journey from cricketing ignorance to involvement, he spoke about everything.

What shone through the interview was how cricket remains the focus of Tendulkar’s life despite having spent 17 hectic years as a player. Asked if he had begun sparing a thought or more for his business interests, he replied, “You may not believe me but the answer is no. Where Tendulkars is concerned, yes, I was involved in the launch phase.

But again the extent of my involvement was in ensuring the restaurant is a reflection of my tastes in food and décor. But beyond that no, not at all. I do go there when I have the time because it’s my kind of place and I like it.

But I will not get involved in the details. If it makes a profit I will not work on doubling the returns and if it makes a loss I will not sit with the management and work out a revival strategy. My focus is 100 per cent cricket.”