Tendulkar rings in 33rd birthday quietly away from media gaze

Mumbai, Apr 24 (UNI) Sachin Tendulkar, who turned 33 today, will be glad for more than one reason that he had rung in a new year with renewed hopes of resurrecting his phenomenal career.

The Mumbai maestro is celebrating his birthday at an undiclosed location with his family as he wants to make it a private affair.

Tendulkar has been battling injuries and an indifferent form, but has so far lost none of the hunger for runs even after 16 years at the top level and is looking forward to score a few more hundreds for himself and the country.

The past year, has been particlarly harsh on the batting maestro as he battled with an elbow injury and then a shoulder ailment with both requiring surgeries besides fighting to come out of indifferent form which has increased the speculation that his best was behind him and he was hurtling towards the end of an illustrious career.

However, he did have one bright sport in the year gone by when he finally was able to break Sunil Gavaskar's record of 34 Test centuries, cracking his 35th against Sri Lanka at the Ferozeshah Kotla in Delhi.

Recuperating from yet another surgery, the master batsman will remain away from the game for some time, which could turn out to be a blessing in disguise, allowing him the space to ponder and work out his game.

Tendulkar is set to miss the one-dayers in West Indies, venue of the World Cup next year, but expected to be fit in time for the four-Test series beginning June 2.

The Mumbai-born batting maestro is expected to be a vital cog in the wheel for India's World Cup plans with skipper Rahul Dravid and coach Greg Chappell banking heavily on his experience and influence in the dressing room.

Birthdays have usually been private affairs for this reticent superstar, who likes to spend the day with family and close friends.

Last year, he held his birthday celebrations with his family and friends at an undisclosed location on the city outskirts, away from the prying eyes of the media and this year also he is doing the same at another undisclosed location.

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