By Praful Kumar Singh

New Delhi, Sep 3 (ANI): Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, who sets the cricket field on fire with his bat, now wishes to light up the skies by flying a Sukhoi-30MKI, the most lethal fighter jet in the Indian Air Force.

Sachin joined the Indian Air Force (IAF) with the rank of Honorary Group Captain on Friday.

Replying to a question about the fighter plane he wish to fly, the batting legend said: “I want to fly a Sukhoi-30MKI.”

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal PV Naik, said that Sachin would soon be flying sorties in Su-30MKI, and added that it depends on the master blaster to make himself available for this purpose.

Welcoming Tendulkar into the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Naik said: “I have been Sachin’s fan since he started playing. It is a momentous occasion for the IAF that he has joined the ranks as Group Captain.”

Giving reasons for awarding an honorary rank to Sachin, the IAF chief mentioned his qualities like tremendous exceptional service to the nation, professional excellence, single-minded devotion to duty, dedication and perseverance, courage in adversity, loyalty to friends, humility and upholding the Indian family values.

He further said that all of these qualities in Sachin are required in the air force also to serve the nation and to make the IAF as one of the most professional air forces of the world.

In 2008, the Territorial Army made former cricketer Kapil Dev honorary Lt. Colonel. (ANI)