Purists may dismiss the Indian Premier League (IPL) as dumbing down of cricket but Sachin Tendulkar feels instead of being criticised, the glamorous twenty20 series should be lauded for globalising the game.
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"I don't personally feel that, you know, (IPL is) dumbing down the game. It's just another version of cricket," Tendulkar said.
"Test cricket is there and then they started one-day cricket many years ago and one-day cricket has been a tremendous success and if the game is going to get globalised in the form of IPL, then why not?
"It's better for cricket," he added in defence of the league that has been criticised for being too glamorous and money-centric.
The veteran right-hander said despite playing the game for the past 19 years, he still gets child-like excited every time he steps out to bat in an international game, especially at his home ground-- the Wankhede stadium.
"It's a special place. That is what I've dreamt of as a kid and then I'm living that dream and that's just fabulous. Every time I walk out, you hear the crowd going crazy, I mean it's just a special feeling.
