When the Indian cricket team takes on Keyna in the second semi-final of the World Cup on Thursday they will have support from an unlikely quarter. Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar [ Images ] will be cheering for them.

"I have been regularly watching the World Cup matches that the Indian cricket team has been playing. I would certainly be amongst the millions of Indian cricket fans to cheer for the team when it takes on Kenya in the semi-finals. I hope we win this match and play the final and win it as well," Shankar told rediff.com in Delhi [ Images ] on Monday.

Asked who is his favourite player, he immediately shot back: "Sachin Tendulkar [ Images ]."

"He is such a pleasing person that his name automatically comes up in my mind. He is a great batsman and it is a treat to watch him in action," he said.

Shankar also lauded the abilities of Mohammad Kaif, Virender Shewag and Yuvraj Singh [ Images ].

"Mohammad Kaif, I thought, gave a wonderful display of batting in our match against New Zealand [ Images ]. I am also impressed with Yuvraj Singh and Shewag," he said.

His daughter Anoushka Shankar [ Images ], however, said she is not much interested in cricket.

"I don't know much about the game, but I definitely like Sachin Tendulkar as a batsman," she said.