Tendulkar skips B’day celebrations,but plays IPL match

Sachin,a devotee of Sathya Sai Baba,skipped his birthday celebrations in the wake of spiritual guru's death.

Sachin Tendulkar,a devotee of Sathya Sai Baba,skipped his birthday celebrations in the wake of the spiritual guru’s death,but played the Mumbai Indians’ IPL match against Deccan Chargers.

The Mumbai Indians skipper was out for 28 from 24 balls as his side posted 172 for four from 20 overs after being put into bat at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here.

The iconic batsman turned 38 today but skipped the celebrations in view of Baba’s death early this morning,sources in the hotel where he was staying said.

Tendulkar,who landed in Hyderabad late last night with wife Anjali and two kids,was confined to his room at the Grand Kakatiya hotel.

“He did not even have breakfast. No one was allowed to enter his room,” a hotel manager said.

There was speculation since yesterday that the Mumbai Indians captain would not celebrate his birthday in view of Baba’s health condition.

News of Baba’s demise this morning apparently came as a shock to Tendulkar.

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A ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign was hung on his hotel room door since the news of Baba’s demise came and Tendulkar did not even meet his teammates,the hotel manager said.

Only Mumbai Indians owner Tina Ambani was said to have met Tendulkar and consoled him.