Thousands of pages and millions of words are not enough to describe the elevation of Sachin Tendulkar, but could conclusively be called as the ‘face of modern cricket.’

Sachin Tendulkar Celebrating World Cup 2011 Victory
Sachin Tendulkar Celebrating World Cup 2011 Victory

Even he has turn 38, and his quintessential romance with the game has entered into twenty-third year but is the most glorified cricketer in the world yet.

His physical alertness, perfect technique, wisdom, humility, patience, sagacious vision and consistency in longevity are the characteristics which starkly differentiate him from other batsmen on planet.

He is exceptionally professional in his approach, the only one cricketer whose veracity has never ever been questioned.

He has had an uncanny ability to come out on top under different circumstances and under different conditions in both one-day International and Test cricket. Young cricketers have injected much needed sanguinity and vigor by performing magnificently under pressure.

He was born with spendthrift natural talent, but he was also driven and remorseless and for nearly a decade, he was an embodiment for consistency, a relentless plunderer of runs who could also embezzle an attack with the frame of mind.

Sachin Tendulkar with Kapil Dev and Azharuddin
Sachin Tendulkar with Kapil Dev and Azharuddin

Sachin Tendulkar’s Debut

Raj Singh Dungarpur selected Sachin Tendulkar for the 1989 Indian tour of Pakistan. In Karachi Sachin Tendulkar played his first Test match against Pakistan at the age of just 16.

In the first test he just made 15 runs, being bowled by young Waqar Younis, who also made his debut in that match. Even though he just made 15 his handling of Pakistan bowling attack was well appraised.

When he was dismissed for duck on one-day debut against Pakistan in Karachi in 1989 at 16 before felling for 15 in preceding Test debut, no one can envisage that the teen sensation will be memorized with the aliases of little master, master blaster, and God of cricket in future.

But the infant taciturn enthralled the folks shortly with strings of promising performances. In this journey he never looked back again and scaled to such unreachable heights which are far beyond from the invigoration of any other batsman yet, and probably would ever be.

Sachin Tendulkar leaves Old Trafford after scoring his first test century against England in 1990
Sachin Tendulkar leaves Old Trafford after scoring his first test century against England in 1990

Sachin Tendulkar’s First Century

His maiden Test ton, a match-saving 119 at Old Trafford against England in 1990, came when he was just 17. He became the 2nd youngest cricketer to score a test century.

Sachin scored 16 Test tons before he turned 25.

Sachin Tendulkar’s Records

Including game’s leading run-getter, centurion and half-centurion in the two most pre-dominant formats of the sport, the first man to score a double-ton in a one-dayer, only player to score two or more centuries against each of the other nine Test playing nations,

Tendulkar holds uncountable records.

Failed Captaincy

Despite of been an outstanding cricketer Tendulkar’s two short tenures as skipper of the national side between 1996-1997 were not very successful and he was liable to led India back-to-back humiliating series defeats both at home and abroad.

Achievements

The turn of the century cameIndia’s dominance after below par pasts during Tendulkar’s venture in the crest of his career. He led the role as batting bastion and raised his nation towards the pinnacle of Test rankings. He was named the 2010 International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricketer of the Year.

Sachin Tendulkar’s Test Career Achievements

  • Sachin iss rated as the second best batsman of all time, after Australian Don Bradman, by Wisden
  • Highest test run scorer – 15,180
  • Fastest to score 10,000 (in 195 innings) runs in Test cricket history along with West Indies’ Brian Lara.
  • Highest number of Test centuries (51), overtaking Sunil Gavaskar’s record (34).
  • Highest number of 150+ score in Test Cricket (20)
  • Sachin has played in the highest number of Cricket Grounds (52)
  • 4th highest tally of runs in Test cricket (10,668) (updated on Feb 16 2007)
  • Second Indian to make over 10,000 runs in Test matches.

Sachin Tendulkar’s ODI Career Achievements

  • Sachin has played the most matches in ODI –  442
  • Most ODI runs – 18,111
  • Most Man of the Match awards

Sachin Tendulkar at The World Cups

ICC Cricket World Cup 1992

His first world cup in which he averaged 41.33 in six games. An unbeaten half-century (54) against Pakistan helped India win and earned him man of the match award. He played 81-run knock to collect another MoM award against Zimbabwe, and scored 84 against New Zealand.

ICC Cricket World Cup 1996

Sachin scored fifties in five of seven matches he played. Was MoM twice and the tournament’s highest run getter (523).

ICC Cricket World Cup 1999

Missed some games due to the death of father but scored unbeaten 140 against Kenya.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2003

Average 61.18. Collected three MOM awards and player of the tournament award with 673 runs and. Played a superb innings of 98 against Pakistan.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2007

Made seven against Bangladesh and 57 against Bermuda.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

Scored tons against England (120), and South Africa (111), managed 53 againstAustralia and 85 against Pakistan in the semifinal.

Is Tendulkar the greatest batsman ever?

Some people rank the master blaster next to Australian great Don Bradman and West Indian Viv Richards and his compatriot Sunil Gavaskar but he not likes his comparison with any other batsman.

“One should not compare me with anyone. I have my own shots and the way I go out to play. I have my own game and the way to score runs,” he had said once.

Sachin Tendulkar's Family - wife Anajli, son Arjun and daughter Sara
Sachin Tendulkar's Family – wife Anajli, son Arjun and daughter Sara

Sachin’s Family

Sachin Tendulkar is married to Anjali, a paediatrician. They have two children, Sara (born 12 October 1997), and Arjun (born 24 September 1999).

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

© 2024 Cricket Dawn