Would like to take one series at a time: Tendulkar

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar said that he would like to focus on one series at a time rather than thinking too far ahead including the World Cup that will be held in the sub-continent, next year.

"I am not yet thinking about the tour of South Africa and the 2011 Cricket World Cup. My immediate focus is on the upcoming New Zealand series and only when that is over, I will start talking about South Africa," Tendulkar said on the sidelines of a function that marked his association as a brand ambassador with a high-end watch manufacturer Audemars Piguet.

However, Tendulkar admitted that he would be happy if India can maintain the winning momentum in the coming series.

"The momentum is with us right now and we should not let it go. We are not taking anything for granted and want to be on our toes. We would be looking to keep on producing competitive cricket and stick to the basics."

When asked whether he is currently enjoying the form of his life, the iconic batsman who recently completed 14,000 Test runs said that although he is happy but he is still not satisfied.

"There is always room for improvement. I am happy with my current performance but not satisfied. I want to get better.

In fact, in any profession one must strive to get better and better," said Tendulkar, adding, "I always want to remain a student of the game because that is when you grasp more and is always keen to improve."

The 37-year-old, who had one of the most fruitful years of his career in 2010 as he won his first ICC's Player of the Year Award and returned to the top of the world batting rankings for the first time since 2002.

In February, he scored centuries in successive Tests against South Africa before becoming the first man to reach 200 in an ODI against the same opponents.

When asked what all has remained in his wish list which he still want to achieve, Tendulkar said, "There is no wish list. I play because I always love playing cricket. The only thing I ever wanted to do was to play for my country.

"Now, my track is only cricket, where a lot of stations come and I cherish arriving at all of them. But I personally just want to do something for my country and go on playing. In this journey I want to achieve whatever I can till the time remains," said the man, who remains just one short of scoring 50 Test centuries.

"It was a fantastic win the Test series against Australia. In fact, it was great to see some guys produced special cricket. (VVS) Laxman is definately one such special guy, who snatched the victory for us. He was struggling to even jog as he was injured but he went out there and produced such a brilliant innings.

Buzz Up Sachin Tendulkar yearns for 'next level'

He has been hailed as one of the most accomplished players in world cricket but Sachin Tendulkar still yearns to reach the "next level" as a batsman.

Tendulkar, who made history earlier this month by becoming the first batsman to score 14,000 runs in Test cricket, says his desire to improve remains as intense as it has ever been.

"I'm really focusing now on how I can get to the next level as a batsman. How can I get even more competitive? How can I get even more consistent? How can I get better?" Tendulkar said, according the extract of an interview to 'The Guardian' to be published in full tomorrow.

Instead of struggling for form with advancing age, 37-year-old Tendulkar has had the most prolific year of his Test career in 2010 and he insists rather than considering retirement he has many more goals to fulfill.

"Life would be flat without dreams. I think it's really important to dream - and then to chase those dreams. I really believe in this because it's this dreaming that makes me work so hard. I want to continue doing that because I've worked very hard the last couple of years on my batting," he said.

"(Coach) Gary Kirsten has been instrumental in this. Together we've worked hard in the last couple of years to improve my batting. He's given me the freedom to express myself, and to pace my innings as I see fit. I can slow down occasionally. Gary has helped me do this and it's because he's more a friend than a coach," said Tendulkar who is just one short of hitting 50 Test centuries.

He described 2010 as his "sweetest year" as he won his first ICC's Player of the Year Award and returned to the top of the world batting rankings for the first time since 2002.

In February, Tendulkar scored centuries in successive Tests against South Africa before becoming the first man to reach 200 in an ODI against the same opponents.

Tendulkar was the highest run scorer in IPL and also made a Test double-hundred against Sri Lanka before his remarkable performances against Australia which saw him reach the 14,000 landmark in the second Test at Bangalore while scoring 214 and an unbeaten 53 to complete India's 2-0 series victory.

The iconic but down to earth batsman conceded that his form subsided a few years ago, prompting critics like Australia's Ian Chappell to call for his retirement.

"There was a little dip for me, around 2005 and 2006. But I had a lot of injuries then. I had finger and elbow injuries, and then a back injury. All these upper-body injuries may have altered my back-swing a little. But, fortunately, all that is behind me now and I've been able to put in the hours of practice that I need," he said.

Tendulkar had earlier expressed his desire to win the 20111 World Cup and he said the cricket-mad Indian fans would be demanding to win the prestigious tournament at home.

"It's going to be massive. Everyone in India is already looking forward to hosting a mega tournament and although people haven't started talking yet about 1983 (when India won the World Cup) it will happen soon. But, given our recent form, people have a right to be excited and have extremely high hopes for us. There are going to be big expectations." Tendulkar also talked about the influence of his late father, a novelist and poet, as well as his brother, Ajit, who remains his closest cricketing confidante.

He also revealed the surprise identity of the bowler who has troubled him most in Test cricket and reflects on the day he and Shane Warne visited Don Bradman on his 90th birthday.

Buzz Up Sachin Tendulkar yearns for 'next level'

He has been hailed as one of the most accomplished players in world cricket but Sachin Tendulkar still yearns to reach the "next level" as a batsman.

Tendulkar, who made history earlier this month by becoming the first batsman to score 14,000 runs in Test cricket, says his desire to improve remains as intense as it has ever been.

"I'm really focusing now on how I can get to the next level as a batsman. How can I get even more competitive? How can I get even more consistent? How can I get better?" Tendulkar said, according the extract of an interview to 'The Guardian' to be published in full tomorrow.

Instead of struggling for form with advancing age, 37-year-old Tendulkar has had the most prolific year of his Test career in 2010 and he insists rather than considering retirement he has many more goals to fulfill.

"Life would be flat without dreams. I think it's really important to dream - and then to chase those dreams. I really believe in this because it's this dreaming that makes me work so hard. I want to continue doing that because I've worked very hard the last couple of years on my batting," he said.

"(Coach) Gary Kirsten has been instrumental in this. Together we've worked hard in the last couple of years to improve my batting. He's given me the freedom to express myself, and to pace my innings as I see fit. I can slow down occasionally. Gary has helped me do this and it's because he's more a friend than a coach," said Tendulkar who is just one short of hitting 50 Test centuries.

He described 2010 as his "sweetest year" as he won his first ICC's Player of the Year Award and returned to the top of the world batting rankings for the first time since 2002.

In February, Tendulkar scored centuries in successive Tests against South Africa before becoming the first man to reach 200 in an ODI against the same opponents.

Tendulkar was the highest run scorer in IPL and also made a Test double-hundred against Sri Lanka before his remarkable performances against Australia which saw him reach the 14,000 landmark in the second Test at Bangalore while scoring 214 and an unbeaten 53 to complete India's 2-0 series victory.

The iconic but down to earth batsman conceded that his form subsided a few years ago, prompting critics like Australia's Ian Chappell to call for his retirement.

"There was a little dip for me, around 2005 and 2006. But I had a lot of injuries then. I had finger and elbow injuries, and then a back injury. All these upper-body injuries may have altered my back-swing a little. But, fortunately, all that is behind me now and I've been able to put in the hours of practice that I need," he said.

Tendulkar had earlier expressed his desire to win the 20111 World Cup and he said the cricket-mad Indian fans would be demanding to win the prestigious tournament at home.

"It's going to be massive. Everyone in India is already looking forward to hosting a mega tournament and although people haven't started talking yet about 1983 (when India won the World Cup) it will happen soon. But, given our recent form, people have a right to be excited and have extremely high hopes for us. There are going to be big expectations." Tendulkar also talked about the influence of his late father, a novelist and poet, as well as his brother, Ajit, who remains his closest cricketing confidante.

He also revealed the surprise identity of the bowler who has troubled him most in Test cricket and reflects on the day he and Shane Warne visited Don Bradman on his 90th birthday.

Gavaskar says Kochi link-up sad

Former captain Sunil Gavaskar seems angry at the way the media has portrayed him for his alleged link with the Kochi IPL franchisee. Some people have even alleged that he had been giving advise to them even while he was a member of the IPL governing council, thus entering the conflict of interest area.

"Pray, tell me how does an offer to be in charge of cricketing aspects of a franchise make so much news when I have not even accepted it.

Isn't it futile to respond to any questions, especially when the angle and line of the article has already been decided by the writer or TV channel?" he told MAIL TODAY.

He further wrote in his e-mail reply that he responded in "good faith" to media houses, but it seems his reply provided "credibility to the biased article written" and to the story shown by channels.

"So, I can shout from the roof tops that I declined to be on the governing council, but it will still be said that I was sacked, expelled, dropped and what not. Sad, really sad," he rued.

Gavaskar also maintained that the BCCI hasn't removed him from the chairmanship of its technical panel. "I don't know where these things are coming from. I'm still the chairman of the technical committee."