MUMBAI, Dec. 10 -- Speaking at the Indian Street Premier League Season 3 Auction, batting great Sachin Tendulkar had special words of advice for all players on how to handle the weight of expectations. "We have to remember why expectations are there. Expectations exist because of your past performances. You shouldn't suddenly start thinking, "Oh, there is a lot of pressure on me, there are expectations. What should I do?" Tendulkar said on Tuesday. "This can be seen in two ways: either you get bogged down and the weight of the pressure freezes you, or you see that the expectations are there only because you have done well in the past. "So, my advice to all the ISPL players is this: be yourself. Don't look to compete with anyone else. Whatever you were yesterday, can you better yourself today? Can you continue that journey? It's a beautiful journey - to keep getting better and create that impression on the field. This is one such platform where you can go out, express yourself, and everyone is watching you and enjoying your talent," said Tendulkar who is ISPL's Core Committee Member. The former India captain said he owed his success in cricket to the tremendous passion for the game. He recalled a period during his school cricketing days when he played 55 days at a stretch which ultimately took a toll and he fell sick. "I started playing cricket because I was passionate. I was madly in love with the sport, and all I wanted to do was play for India. For that, whatever I needed to do, I was prepared to do. There were various stages in my life. When it was school cricket, I was prepared to work hard - possibly be on the field for 12 hours. There was a period when I did that for 55 days in a row during my summer holidays, and I finally fell sick. But that is what it is. If the passion and that fire are not there, you're not going to be able to move forward." The upcoming eight-team tournament is scheduled to take place in the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat from January 9 to February 6, 2026. "To move forward, you need hard work, you need planning, you need to be able to execute that. You need the right guidance and discipline. When the time comes, you have to go out and perform - and that is how you progress to the next level. "My message is this: just go out and be yourself. Climb the mountain. And why do I say "climb the mountain"? Climb the mountain so that you can see the world, not so that the world can see you. Seeing the world and exploring more will make you a better player and a better contributor on the field. Eventually, you'll be setting examples for the rest of the guys. So, enjoy the moment, and all the best to all the players."...