The Nine Lives Of Sachin Tendulkar

A global star, iconic batsman and a complete family man... Sachin Tendulkar, brand ambassador of Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet, widely cited as one of the most revered Indians after Mahatma Gandhi. Hello! Delves into the master blaster’s life in an exclusive interview and discovers the nine aspects of his private world.

- Sanghita Singh

Sachin Tendulkar looks handsome in a sharp blue suit. His hair neatly in place. Body fit, face lean and glowing, the way it does after an intense workout. This is the best he’s ever looked. Success sits easy on his personality as do the finely-crafted clothes, watch and shoes he wears. He spells luxury in every aspect – he’s classy and keeps it simple. Understated. Yet exclusive.

In the Capital to spend an evening with patrons of Audemars Piguet, he enjoys a five-course sit-down lavish dinner hosted in his honour. None can tell, he’s been under the weather. Perhaps something he ate earlier didn’t agree with his system. But once he’s out there he camouflages his ill heath, smiling all along and even cracking a few jokes here and there.

With countless records broken and the clincher World Cup title won on home ground at the Wankhede stadium before his retirement, Sachin has lived his career’s dream, winning it on his terms. But even after he announced his retirement, his hands have been full, as he takes up new assignments and challenges. “I am not someone who goes out looking for challenges. I am not an adventurer in that sense. But I am looking forward to new aspects. Like I thought of this idea with Shane Warne about keeping retired cricketers busy – and we introduced cricket to America. All along I would hear from my friends who had migrated to the US, about rugby and baseball. I thought why don’t we give America a little bit of cricket too.”

So does Sachin believe in fate and the right timing for things to have played out his way? “I've got a different take on this. I believe in doing things right, more than right now. One has to be patient – it’s difficult but I feel it’s better to do things right,” the cricketing legend explains.