<p>"Bhaichung has won a celebrity dance competition in India, he is a celebrity in India," Houghton said in a lighter vein when asked if the 'Sikkimese Sniper' can be compared with Tendulkar.<br /><br />On a more serious note, Houghton told a press conference on the eve of India's second match against Bahrain that both are role models in their respective sports.<br />"Comparison between Bhaichung and Sachin must be going over the heads of a lot of people here who don't know cricket," Houghton said.<br /><br />"The best cricketer in the world is in India. Tendulkar is a very fine role model, a fine person. Comparison with Bhaichung is similar.<br /><br />"They are of the same age, they keep going. Bhaichung retired a few years ago (in 2006) but came back. This man is a major influence on the team on and off the field. He is a leader. If we can get him out on the field, he could make a difference for us," said the 63-year-old Englishman.<br /><br />Houghton said that Bhutia's influence on the team is such that having him in the ongoing Asian Cup squad despite the skipper being not fully fit was "worth a gamble".<br />Ruled out of tomorrow's match against Bahrain after missing out on the country's opening Asian Cup fixture against Australia due to a calf muscle injury, Bhutia is expected to play in the third match against South Korea on Januray 18.<br /><br />Bhaichung was the first Indian to play professional football in Europe in the post-independence era, when he spent three years with English Championship side FC Bury between 1999 and 2002.<br /><br />The 34-year-old has played 104 international matches for India since 1995 and is the record goal-scorer.Tendulkar, 37, is the leading runs scorer and century maker in both Test and one-day international cricket.<br /><br />Known as the 'Little Master', he is widely considered as the greatest batsman of the modern era</p>
<p>"Bhaichung has won a celebrity dance competition in India, he is a celebrity in India," Houghton said in a lighter vein when asked if the 'Sikkimese Sniper' can be compared with Tendulkar.<br /><br />On a more serious note, Houghton told a press conference on the eve of India's second match against Bahrain that both are role models in their respective sports.<br />"Comparison between Bhaichung and Sachin must be going over the heads of a lot of people here who don't know cricket," Houghton said.<br /><br />"The best cricketer in the world is in India. Tendulkar is a very fine role model, a fine person. Comparison with Bhaichung is similar.<br /><br />"They are of the same age, they keep going. Bhaichung retired a few years ago (in 2006) but came back. This man is a major influence on the team on and off the field. He is a leader. If we can get him out on the field, he could make a difference for us," said the 63-year-old Englishman.<br /><br />Houghton said that Bhutia's influence on the team is such that having him in the ongoing Asian Cup squad despite the skipper being not fully fit was "worth a gamble".<br />Ruled out of tomorrow's match against Bahrain after missing out on the country's opening Asian Cup fixture against Australia due to a calf muscle injury, Bhutia is expected to play in the third match against South Korea on Januray 18.<br /><br />Bhaichung was the first Indian to play professional football in Europe in the post-independence era, when he spent three years with English Championship side FC Bury between 1999 and 2002.<br /><br />The 34-year-old has played 104 international matches for India since 1995 and is the record goal-scorer.Tendulkar, 37, is the leading runs scorer and century maker in both Test and one-day international cricket.<br /><br />Known as the 'Little Master', he is widely considered as the greatest batsman of the modern era</p>