Tendulkar admits retirement may not be far away

NEW DELHI (REUTERS) - Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar has admitted to having thoughts about retiring from the sport but would not confirm precisely when he plans to hang up his boots.

At 39, Tendulkar possesses bundles of batting records in international cricket and achieved his long-cherished dream of being part of a World Cup-winning team last year when India claimed the 50-over tournament in his home city Mumbai.

His slowing reflexes and the manner of recent dismissals have convinced many observers that the "Little Master" should bring an end to a shining career that started with his 1989 debut in Pakistan.

"Of course I have been. I will be lying if I said I do not," Tendulkar told Times Now channel, when asked if he had started thinking about retirement after dodging the question for some time.