London, July 13: As India look to strengthen their No. 1 position in Test cricket with a series win against England, the mainstay of their batting line-up, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, is standing at the threshold of yet another record. When asked about his impending hundredth century by The Telegraph, the milestone man, averse to giving in to hype, said, “I’m not thinking of records.”

So what’s on his mind as he heads to England? “I’m just thinking of enjoying this tour. The secret to any performance is not in chasing records. I think about, ‘What is the best way to enjoy the game, and how can I enhance that enjoyment factor?’

"If I enhance the enjoyment then, naturally, the standard of play becomes higher. To me, that is more important. If I’m playing well, things can happen. I don’t need to go around chasing them. It’s a process. You construct a solid foundation and build on it.”

Through years of standout performances, Tendulkar’s philosophy has always been to contribute to the team cause. “For me, it’s not about breaking records or creating new ones. It’s about adding value to my team. Records will be set by me, they might be broken by someone else.

"They’re not going to stay permanently. But the impression that I leave on people will last forever, I feel. The impression that I leave behind - to me that is important. If I can motivate the next [generation of] young cricketers, that will be a big contribution,” he explained.

Looking back at the World Cup earlier this year, and a couple of close calls against Pakistan in the semi-final, he observed, “The only easy chance was where I looked to chip the ball over midwicket, and I mistimed it! The other one was deflected and went to third man.”

Speaking about the momentous win he said, “I was extremely delighted. It was something I had always dreamt about. You start playing cricket, and one day you walk away as part of a world champion team.”

"I took up playing serious cricket because in 1983 we won the World Cup and that was a big turning point in terms of considering cricket a full-time profession. That moment was a decisive one. I felt, ‘I want to play for India one day’. It was a huge boost. From then I started working hard.”

But doesn’t the pressure of being a national hero and carrying the weight of the expectation of millions of fans get to him? “I’m used to it. It’s the kind of lifestyle that I lead in India. It began around the age of 16, at the time I would start going out and mixing with friends. But I don’t feel suffocated. I feel extremely comfortable back home in whatever I do. That’s how my life has been, so I believe it’s normal.”

His staggering records notwithstanding, it is humility that characterises Tendulkar. “I have been rewarded, and God has been kind to me. I have no complaints. I am very grateful to all the people who have appreciated and supported me over the years, and who have accepted me in the manner that I am.”

For a man who has been elevated to demigod status in India, what is it like to visit other nations? “When I spend time in England, it’s different. I get to do certain things that I wouldn’t be able to do in India: to go into the park with my children, to do whatever they want to do, whether it be a game of soccer or cricket. I enjoy the best of both [worlds]. The idea is to balance life in India with life away from India, to get the best of both and to be a happy man.”

On being asked by The Telegraph whether he had ever contemplated the end of his playing career he replied, “I haven’t. I’m enjoying every moment. It has been fun. In fact, I’m looking at how to enjoy the game more and how to improve the standard of play. It’s about getting better. Nobody knows what is going to happen tomorrow. At least today I know that I want to enjoy cricket, to enjoy the moment.”

When asked about Sir Donald Bradman, the cricketing tsar who had famously likened Tendulkar’s style of play to his own, he recalled, “At possibly the best time in my career, when I was doing well at the international level, it [took me] a notch higher to [receive] the statement from Sir Don that my batting resembled his, that my style was exactly like his.”

“Coming from Sir Don himself, it meant a lot. It was perfect that it happened to me at that stage. I needed to take my game to a different level, and I really felt proud.”

As all eyes turn towards Lord’s, the historic ground that will stage the 2000th Test ever to be played, and the 100th between India and England, Tendulkar would hope to make it a memorable match for him and his legion of fans scoring that much anticipated 100th century.