Playing in Delhi always special: Tendulkar

Gurgaon, May 28 (IANS) Probably the most loved cricketer on the planet, Sachin Tendulkar said here on Thursday that playing at the Ferozeshah Kotla in New Delhi has always been special for him.

"Playing cricket in Delhi has always been special. I remember it quite well that it was here at the Ferozeshah Kotla that for the first time I captained India when we were playing Australia and we won the match too," said the former India batting superstar.

The 42-year-old also recalled the match when he went past his hero Sunil Gavaskar’s record of most Test centuries.

"In the 2005 series against Sri Lanka, the Chennai Test was almost washed out due to rain. I had slept and dreamt that I would make my 35th century in Delhi and that actually came true. That was an extremely special moment," said the legend.

The former India skipper also appreciated his fans in Delhi who always came out in large numbers to support him.

"Whether it was the Tests, One-Day Internationals (ODI) or even the Indian Premier League (IPL), the atmosphere in Delhi has always been electrifying," said Tendulkar.

"We play the IPL in the immense heat of April and May and we have also played in the freezing temperatures of December and January. 

"The one thing that never changes in Delhi is the reaction of the audience and I am really thankful for that," concluded Tendulkar, who retired in 2013.