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 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 on Monday.

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

"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.

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

His daughter Anoushka Shankar, 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.