At a recent event in Mumbai, former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar spoke about the influence of former BCCI Chief Raj Singh Dungarpur and revealed that he had helped him for a major part of his career. While inaugurated a gate named after Dungarpur at the Cricket Club of India (CCI), Tendulkar said, "It is a great feeling to come back to CCI. When it comes to Raj Bhai I really don't know where to start because I get confused, we had that kind of relationship, he has guided me all the way. Recalling the first time when the two met, "The first time Raj Bhai saw me was when I was 13-14, I had scored some runs against CCI, I was playing for Shivaji Park Youngsters, I had scored some runs, even Madhav Apte Sir was that timekeeping for CCI and it was an honour to play against him." "Once my name was recommended to Raj Bhai, he told me to come and play for CCI and bent all possible rules and allowed me to get in the dressing room at the age of 14, I was the only one and slowly slowly in your (CCI's) company got comfortable and results started following.", Tendulkar added. "Raj Bhai always helped youngsters, I am the lucky one and all the way he has guided me, there were occasions where I had to go on foreign tours and one did not have deep pockets then and Raj Bhai was instrumental in getting the sponsors to make sure that I get that experience. "I went to London a couple of times, and after that the encouragement continued. I got selected for Mumbai Ranji team and at that time coincidentally Raj Bhai was the Chairman of the Selection Committee and I had scored runs. "My first season of Ranji Trophy was successful one," he said. Speaking on Dungarpur's last tour, which was to Pakistan, Sachin revealed that his enthusiasm remained unabated. "When Raj Bhai was on his last tour as manager which was 2005-06 in Pakistan, I could still feel his passion for the game despite his old age". "There were usual discussions whether Sachin would go to West Indies or not, so Raj Bhai came to me when I was playing the semifinal at the Wankhede stadium against Delhi. I had scored runs in the first innings and Raj Bhai walked up to me and he said I will tell you one thing that you will not go to West Indies, you focus on this match and if you get a chance to play in the final then score there and after that you are focusing on SSC exams, I was in 10th standard." Tendulkar said Raj Bhai assured him that if he continued to play well back then, the day when he would play for India was not too far. "And his words came true and I played for India in November same year
