Sachin begins new innings, takes guard as MP

Accompanied by his wife Anjali, the 39-year-old cricket legend in a checked shirt and wearing sunshades came to Parliament House in the official car of Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla and was escorted straight to the Chairman Hamid Ansari's chamber.

The first cricketer to be nominated to the House of Elders, his oath-taking as member was a brief affair, which he did in Hindi and in the name of God, but keeping with his star status, the attendant ceremony prolonged a bit longer.

In all, it took more than an hour for the whole process to be over with MoS in PMO V Narayanasamy offering him a golden shawl followed by a photo session and a tea with guests and officials.

Another MoS Harish Rawat and SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav were present at the ceremony after which Ansari welcomed him with some discussion on cricket and his own interest in the game.

Shortly after he took the oath, he was asked how would he assuage those raising questions whether he had time for Parliament because of his commitment to cricket.

He said cricket would be his first priority and hinted at concentrating on Parliament work after he stops playing the game.

However, Tendulkar hastened to add that he does not want rumours to swirl that he has stopped playing cricket for Parliament. (MORE)