Urge everyone to support the team: Sachin Tendulkar

For Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, whose association with the World Cup started as a ball boy in 1987 at the Wankhede and ended as a World Cup winner at the same venue in 2011, life has indeed come a full circle.

"My first memory of the World Cup was the epic 1983 final where we beat the West Indies. I was just 10 that time but I still remember Kapil paaji lift the trophy on the Lord's balcony. I did make my World Cup debut in 1992 but my journey with the tournament started in the previous edition in 1987. I was one of the ball boys in the India vs Zimbabwe match played at the Wankhede (October 17). From that day to the one at Wankhede in 2011. To start and end at the same stadium, life did in fact come full circle," the 41-year-old said while talking to reporters in Mumbai on Saturday.

On the sidelines, he also wrote a message for Team India, reading 'Enjoy the game. Give your best. We are with you'.

Tendulkar added that the fans must back Dhoni & Co.

"Sometimes, you have to accept defeat. But what is important is to learn from the obstacles and challenge and take it as a learning curve. What is also important is that the hopes of an entire nation are along with us, the fans are not giving us pressure by sitting on the team's head but instead moving along with them with every game. I would urge everyone to support our team," the Little Master added.