Sachin's 39th birthday draws emotions

Maestro of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar turned 39 and it was a quiet but a memorable birthday celebration for the little master.

Batting icon Sachin Tendulkar yesterday turned 39 and celebrated the occasion with a cake-cutting function with his wife and Mumbai Indians teammates at the team hotel here.

After a training session at the PCA Stadium ahead of Mumbai's match against Punjab today, a small party was held, with a cake which had a cricket field as its theme.

A great-gran: One of Sachin Tendulkar's biggest fans, Margarita (Mary) Serrao, who shares her birthday with the batting legend, cuts a cake at her Malad residence yesterday while her family members wear Tendulkar masks. Mary turned 89 while Tendulkar turned 39. In 2009, Mary's dream came true when she met Tendulkar. Pic/Nimesh Dave

Tendulkar cuts his birthday cake in Mohali yesterday as Aiden Blizzard (left) looks on

"Many many happy returns of the day. May he stay happy and healthy forever," MI skipper Harbhajan Singh said wishing Tendulkar. "It's a bit of a tradition that you celebrate by painting pieces of cake on each other's face. It's fun," said MI's mentor Shaun Pollock. After being mobbed by fans, Tendulkar said: "Thanks for best wishes and prayers through all these years."u00a0