Tendulkar aims for top spot by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	SR Tendulkar
Event:	ICC Champions Trophy 2009/10

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DateLine: 18th September 2009

 

Sachin Tendulkar hopes that he can mark his 20 years in international cricket by leading India to become the world's top ranked One-day team.

 

India enter the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa starting next week as strong contenders after staying unbeaten in One-day series over the past one year.

 

They are third in the ODI rankings, just one rating point behind world champions Australia and South Africa going into the premier eight-team event starting on Tuesday.

 

"We definitely have the ability, the spirit, the desire, the hunger to get there (number one team)," the 36-year-old former skipper said.

 

"Playing cricket for India means the world to me. I grew up dreaming about playing cricket for India. I am living my dream."

 

Tendulkar underlined his continued desire to excel, scoring his 44th One-day hundred last week to set up a tri-series final win over hosts Sri Lanka in Colombo.

 

"It is going to be a challenging season, a lot of cricket," he said. "I wish we had more Test cricket, we only have three Test matches this season."

 

India's best performance in the Champions Trophy was finishing as joint winners in 2002 alongside hosts Sri Lanka.