He said that Baba\u2019s blessings also reassured him to face all the challenges whenever he was on the field.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Tendulkar said it was from Sathya Sai Baba that he understood that being a successful person is not about accumulation, but it is about contribution and giving something meaningful to the less privileged.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Addressing the birth centenary celebrations of Sathya Sai Baba in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Bharat Ratna awardee revealed how Baba\u2019s gift of a book during the World Cup camp gave him confidence and inner strength.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI remember 2011. After having played multiple World Cups, I knew it would be the last World Cup. There were huge expectations. Emotions were running high. We were having a camp in Bengaluru, and I received a phone call saying Baba has sent you his book. It brought a smile to my face. I know that this World Cup is going to be a special one for us. It gave me that confidence, that inner strength and as an athlete, I would feel that spring in my legs. It was very much there during the camp,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The legendary batsman revealed that Baba\u2019s book became his constant companion. \u201cWe all know what happened after that in 2011 when India played against Sri Lanka in Mumbai and ended up lifting that trophy. The entire nation was celebrating,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Tendulkar called it the golden moment of his cricketing life. \u201cI don\u2019t think I have expressed anything like that in my career where the entire nation got together and they were celebrating and that was only possible because of the blessings of our well-wishers, our gurus and above all, Baba\u2019s blessings,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt gave me inner strength to go out and give my best and reassured me, during all those challenges, whenever I was on the field, to face those challenges without any fear because Baba is with you,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The former Indian captain said he was feeling very lucky to participate in the centenary celebrations and called it a huge honour.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Referring to Puttaparthi, he said this place brought \"so much comfort, purpose and direction to millions of us\".<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI am reminded number of ways Baba contributed to our lives, making us better human beings,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Tendulkar also shared that when he was five, and whenever he went, including to school, people around him would refer to him as a small child whose hair was like Sathya Sai Baba\u2019s hair. \u201cThat was only because I had not had the haircut till the age of five. My hair was long like his hair. I was too young to understand the enormity of Baba\u2019s contribution to humankind.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The former cricketer recalled his first meeting with Sathya Sai Baba in the mid-1990s. \u201cIt was in Whitefield and from there on I had the honour of meeting him on several occasions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sharing the anecdote from his meeting and interaction with Baba at Puttaparthi in 1997, he said Baba had the ability to be with you wherever you go in the mental space. \u201cThere were a number of questions in mind. I was thinking, should I ask him and if it is appropriate to ask. Without asking those questions, Baba had answered those questions. That was an unbelievable experience for me. I was thinking how he knows what is going on in my head. He answered my questions, blessed me and gave me direction.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The former cricketer recalled his first meeting with Sathya Sai Baba in the mid-1990s. \u201cIt was in Whitefield and from there on I had the honour of meeting him on several occasions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHe did it by giving us multiple examples. It was never an instruction to someone to go and do it. He himself did. He believed in helping people, healing them and uplifting them. It was in his nature to contribute and bless people with better mental space. Sometimes we address only physical health, but mental health is equally important,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n