London: Its been more than 20 years since the little master made his debut in international cricket but even today, when Sachin Tendulkar walks out to bat, he carries the hopes of a billion supporters on his shoulders. Yet, all that pressure notwithstanding, expectations from the Indian team and him, in particular, will reach even greater levels when India co-hosts the World Cup next year. The final of the 2011 World Cup will be played in Mumbai, Sachin’s hometown, and leading his team to the World Champions title will be the perfect way to crown his already glittering career… but even with so much to think about, Sachin refuses to let his mind wander from the job in hand.

“As far as the World Cup is concerned, it is a process. We don’t want to jump to the 50th floor straight away, we must start on the ground floor,” he said. “We must take it step-by-step but to get there would be a fascinating journey. It is our dream, not just mine but the entire nation’s, to get there. To play the final in Mumbai is something you can only dream of and everything has to come together. But if we can play to the best of our potential then I think we can do something we have been longing to do for quite some time.”

“So let’s not get carried away. One floor at a time, one game at a time. It would be a great achievement and the country is dreaming about it. Actually, I am dreaming about it as well. What can I say? If we can play to our potential, we can really get there,” he added.

Tendulkar is currently taking a break from the game after he had injured himself during this year’s Indian Premier League, in which he led his team, Mumbai Indians, to the finals, but he will return to Indian colours for the Test series against Sri Lanka next month. The five-day format has suddenly taken on a much greater priority in India – although Tendulkar, himself, has always been adamant it is the main brand of the game – after the team reached No. 1 in the world.

They will look to consolidate that position against Sri Lanka before a mouth-watering contest in South Africa at the end of the year as the top two ranked teams go head-to-head over three Tests at Centurion, Durban and Cape Town. It will be a huge challenge for India to compete in foreign conditions against the likes of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, but Tendulkar doesn’t want to let the top spot slip away after working so hard for the honour.

“To be number one is special, it was our dream and our target to get to the number one spot in Test cricket,” he said. “We have had a good run in the last 20 months. Everyone wants to be number one and we cannot relax because there are other countries who want to be number one. It means a lot to us.”

At 37, its only a matter of time now before Tendulkar calls time on his stellar career. In fact, the 2011 World Cup is being seen as the swan song tournament for the master blaster. He has already cut back his Twenty20 commitments and doesn’t play that format internationally, while he also declined a deal with Middlesex this season to spend more time with his family. However, for the time being he has no plans to end his Test or one-day days.

“At the moment I am just thinking about my next Test match, I am looking to play against Sri Lanka starting July 17. The answer is that I really don’t know. I want to play for as long as possible and as long as I have the desire and the hunger I will carry on,” he said. “The day I do not want to get out of bed and do anything, I would know it will be time to go in another direction.”

Living up to the expectations of a billion Indians is never an easy task and many a players have come and gone in the past two decades, but Sachin has been doing the job for last 20 years with ultimate sincerity, success and grace and the little master said the key to his success was that he always thought about his own expectations.

“It is difficult to live with the expectations other people have for me, so I think about my own expectations instead. I have always set targets for myself. There are always butterflies in my stomach every time I walk to the ground and they are good companions to have. They show I still care about cricket as much as ever, that I am ready to play. Even in exhibition matches, I am nervous when I go out. That is how my body prepares. When those butterflies are gone, I know it will be time for me to go too,” Sachin said.

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