Hope Tendulkar enjoys his role as Rajya Sabha member: Anand

"I hope he (Tendulkar) enjoys his role and he is able to do it very well. It's a big step for him and I think he will enjoy it," Anand said.

Tendulkar will take oath as a member of Rajya Sabha tomorrow.

Anand said that he was not the one to lobby for himself to be conferred the Bharat Ratna, but thanked his well-wishers for thinking that he deserves the country's highest civilian award.

"I simply can't imagine myself campaigning for that award. I am not gonna do that. What happens happens. I don't want to say anything that might influence anything," he said.

 

"I appreciate the support ... Anyone who takes position on my behalf supporting me. A feeling that people are behind you gives you a lot of strength, that I appreciate," he told NDTV.

Anand returned to a rousing reception at his home city Chennai last night after winning his fifth world title by defeating Boris Gelfand of Israel in a tense tie-breaker in Moscow.