Sachin is being treated like a god by his fans in India for his cricketing achievements but he feels that nobody is bigger than the game.
"No, never. Nobody is bigger than the game. Cricket teaches you every day. If you start feeling that you are bigger than cricket, sooner comes the fall," Tendulkar said.
"When I started learning cricket from my coach Ramakant Achrekar, I was told clearly by him that not only I should respect the game, I should worship cricket also and than only cricket will take care of me. I still believe in that," Tendulkar said.
Sachin, who had already featured in five World Cups, when he was asked whether he would play in the 2011 World Cup to be held in the sub-continent.
"Every cricketer wants to be a part of a World Cup winning team. Same is the thing with me. If I get a chance to be part of a world cup winning team it will be a great thing for me," he added.
Tendulkar picked Sunil Gavaskar and West Indian great Vivian Richards as his cricketing role models.
"I always wanted to be a combination of Gavaskar and Viv Richards. I admired their batting styles," he said.
Asked about his best innings in his 19 years of excellent cricketing career, he said, "1992, Perth against Australia. I was 18 years old and scored my third Test hundred on a very difficult pitch. It proved to be the turning point in my career. I gained confidence of a lifetime on that day."
Asked about the saddest moment of his cricketing career, Tendulkar said, "2003 World Cup final. We were so close to winning the World Cup and we were really playing good cricket at that time."
35-year-old Tendulkar said he will miss retiring stalwarts Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble.
"I used to talk with Ganguly in Bengali. How correct was my language I don't know. But we had great time both on the field and off the field. While batting we both understood each other better and talking to each other.
"Similarly with Kumble I have spent a lot of time. He has played for the country for 18 long years. One can't become Ganguly or Kumble overnight; it takes years of hardwork to reach that level. Surely I will miss both of them," he said
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