What makes Tendulkar uncomfortable?

He doesn't receive letters written in blood any more, but Sachin Tendulkar  says that he does not feel comfortable when a fan touches his feet and tells him he is God.

Tendulkar, whose achievements with the bat have won him fans worldwide, says the adulation never ceases to surprise him.

"I used to receive letters written in blood...but not any more. It feels strange when a fan comes and touches your feet and says you are God. I don't feel comfortable with it, but it is the way they feel about you...that happened again just a couple of weeks ago actually," he says.

In a light-hearted interview published in celebrity magazine 'OK!', Tendulkar spoke about his love for Ferrari  cars, his post-retirement plans and how he handles criticism.

Tendulkar said retirement thoughts were far away from his mind at the moment but he may start a business when he stops playing competitive cricket.

"That's a big question. I don't know...I will definitely be involved with the game. When I retire, that is when the doors to other opportunities will open. As of now, other than just promoting various products, I haven't opened the door to anything else. Maybe I'll start a business," he said.

"I don't know when that would be yet, but that will be the time I will focus my energy in different directions. Right now it's only focussed in one direction -- that is cricket," Tendulkar said.

Asked when was the last time he received some constructive criticism, the batting maestro said, "criticism is hardly ever constructive. I try and stay away from newspapers when I am playing. You get to read so many things that are not constructive, but somehow the guy who is writing it all seems to think that it's constructive."

Tendulkar said his celebrity status has helped him wriggle out of situations that would be difficult to handle for a commoner.

"There's one time that I remember clearly...we were in Australia  playing some exhibition games -- it was around 1994. I was out with two other players and when we got back to the hotel, the rest of the team had already left for the airport. They had packed my bags and gone and there were no mobiles or anything. We had no way of reaching them," he recalled.

"We were to fly from Sydney to Melbourne -- we had no tickets, no passports, nothing. I got to the counter at the airport and explained the situation. The guy at the counter recognised me and he gave us three boarding passes from Sydney to Melbourne...without passports, without tickets. I felt that I was truly special," he said.

Asked when was the last time he spent an entire day without watching any sport, the 35-year-old batsman replied, "On December 31 last year. I spent time with my family in Mussoorie about 7,000 feet above sea level looking at the snow-capped mountains. It was freezing and we went for a long walk. I was a fantastic feeling. That was the day when I didn't watch sports at all."

On the one moment he felt proud of, Tendulkar said, "I was truly proud of our performance during the Chennai Test. We won against England  on the last day."

Asked about the most recent prank he had played on a teammate, Tendulkar said, "I am always doing that...a while ago, we had gone to a restaurant and we actually fooled Yuvraj Singh .

"We put wasabi on a toast and told him it was a delicious spread that he must try. He almost ate it. We stopped him at the last minute." When was the last time he did something which he wished he hadn't?

"Probably the last innings I batted in Mohali. I felt that I shouldn't have played that shot. I got out on it. (Smiles) That's what I feel every time I get out," he quipped.

Tendulkar : New Zealand tour will be tough

Having been informed of an interaction with Sachin Tendulkar  well in advance ensures one thing: you are prepared with a set of questions.

The Master Blaster doesn't speak often, and when he does, it is not as much as you may expect. So every opportunity you get, you try to make the most of it.

But then comes a by-now-frequent roadblock -- he is going to be late. All preparations go for a toss; the only thing you look for then is the means to kill time; you have no other option than wait.

The wait is long and boring, but when the legend arrives you somehow regain the energy. And, thankfully, it is one of those days when he is willing to speak. Thus, it is vital that the opportunity be grabbed.

The first question was topical. How does Tendulkar look forward to the upcoming tour of New Zealand ?

"It is going to be a challenge for sure," he replies, almost with immediate effect, as if he was anticipating the question.

The elaboration follows.

"Not only playing New Zealand, but also playing them in New Zealand, because of the conditions.

"It is tough out there."

Coming from someone who has toured New Zealand on no less than six occasions in his illustrious 20-year career, this statement came in as a surprise.

But the caution was justified.

"In places like Wellington, when a bowler bowls at say 130-135 kph the ball comes faster from one end because of the breeze coming in from that direction. Similarly, from the other side the ball comes at a slower pace, as there is no wind.

"That in turn changes the batsman's plan."

With most of squad members touring New Zealand for the first time, does he see this as an impediment to India's prospects?

"I don't think it will be a negative factor.”

"We have both experience and youth, and the balance is good. It will be a learning experience for all the players who are touring for the first time."

What corroborated Tendulkar's confidence was the recent performances of the Indian team.

"We have been playing good cricket of late and we need to continue doing that," he asserted.

Tendulkar's last tour wasn't exactly successful. But his form wasn't entirely to be blamed for that.

"Aap galat aadmi se poochh rahein hai [you are asking the wrong person]. The ICC  doesn't allow us to talk about it at all."

On being prodded further, he admitted: "It is definitely difficult for any player and I am disappointed; but such things happen."

Talk then veered towards Twenty20 , the game's most recent version that is palpably gaining popularity with every passing day. So it does rankle a bit to find Tendulkar out of the Indian team's scheme of things.

"It was a conscious decision not to play Twent20 anymore," he reasoned. "I took the decision after the England  tour of 2007. At that time it was my body that prompted me to take that decision.

"Now the team is doing well and I don't want to disturb the composition."

But then how does he explain his captaining Mumbai Indians  in the Indian Premier League?

"As far as Mumbai Indians is concerned, I have been there since the beginning. So there's certain continuity in that regard," justified Tendulkar.

"I have been out of the Indian T20 team for more than one-and-a-half year now and would like it that way."

With no scope for further questions on that subject, the next followed.

The ICC is trying out the referral system in various bilateral series before finally implementing it. Tendulkar was part of the Indian squad that toured Sri Lanka last year when the system was tried out the first time.

So what's his opinion on it?

"I didn't particularly like the system, as there is an element of uncertainty.

"The hawk-eye is definitely not convincing enough."