Sachin Tendulkar

Lore & Background

Tendulkar took up cricket at age eleven, made his Test debut on 15 November 1989 against Pakistan in Karachi at age sixteen, and represented Mumbai domestically and India internationally for over 24 years. In 2002, Wisden ranked him the second-greatest Test batsman of all time behind Don Bradman, and the second-greatest ODI batsman behind Viv Richards. He was part of the joint-winning team of the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy and the Indian team that won the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

He was named Player of the Tournament at the 2003 World Cup. He retired from ODI cricket in 2012 and from all forms of cricket in November 2013 after his 200th Test match. He played 664 international matches, scoring 34,357 runs. In 2013, he was included in an all-time Test World XI to mark the 150th anniversary of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack.

He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, after his last match in November 2013, becoming the first sportsperson and the youngest recipient. He was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2019.

Reader's Guide

Tendulkar's early life: born in Dadar, Bombay, into a Marathi family; his father Ramesh was a Marathi-language novelist and poet, his mother Rajni worked in insurance. He has three older siblings: half-brothers Nitin and Ajit, and half-sister Savita. His brother Ajit introduced him to cricket in 1984. He trained under coach Ramakant Achrekar at Shivaji Park.

He attended Sharadashram Vidyamandir School after being advised by Achrekar. In 1987, at age 14, he attended the MRF Pace Foundation but was advised to focus on batting. He served as a ball boy in the 1987 Cricket World Cup semifinal in Bombay. In 1988, he and Vinod Kambli shared an unbroken 664-run partnership in a Lord Harris Shield inter-school game.

He made his first-class debut for Bombay on 11 December 1988, scoring 100 not out, becoming the youngest Indian to score a century on first-class debut. He scored centuries on his Deodhar and Duleep Trophy debuts. He captained Bombay to four Ranji Trophy wins in five finals. He is the only player to score a century on debut in all three domestic first-class tournaments (Ranji, Irani, Duleep).

Did You Know?

• Tendulkar was named after his father's favourite music director, Sachin Dev Burman.
• As a child, he idolised tennis player John McEnroe and grew his hair long to emulate him.
• He won 13 one-rupee coins from his coach Ramakant Achrekar for not getting dismissed in practice sessions.
• He was a substitute for Imran Khan's team in an exhibition match on 20 January 1987.
• Sunil Gavaskar gave Tendulkar a pair of his own lightweight pads as encouragement.

Career Trajectory and Unmatched Records

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar's illustrious journey began when he took up cricket at the age of eleven, eventually representing Mumbai domestically and India internationally for over two decades. Making his Test debut against Pakistan in Karachi on November 15, 1989, at just sixteen years old, he quickly established himself as a prodigy. His career is defined by an unprecedented accumulation of statistics; he holds the world record for being the all-time highest run-scorer in international cricket with a staggering total of 34,357 runs across 664 matches. Uniquely, he remains the only batsman to have scored one hundred international centuries and has received more player-of-the-match awards than any other competitor globally. His longevity was remarkable, retiring from One Day Internationals in 2012 before concluding his entire career after playing his 200th Test match in November 2013.

Defining Moments and Major Triumphs

Throughout a career spanning twenty-four years, Tendulkar experienced both profound heartbreak and ultimate glory on the world stage. He participated in six Cricket World Cups, finally securing victory with India's win in the 2011 tournament, marking his first title after numerous previous attempts. His individual brilliance was recognized early; he was named Player of the Tournament at the 2003 World Cup and contributed significantly to India's joint-winning effort in the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy. By the halfway point of his career in 2002, Wisden Cricketers' Almanack had already ranked him as the second-greatest Test batsman ever, trailing only Don Bradman, and the second-best ODI player behind Viv Richards. These accolades underscored his status not just as a participant, but as a central pillar of global cricket history during his active years.

National Reverence and Civilian Honors

Beyond the boundaries of the pitch, Tendulkar evolved into a potent symbol of national pride for India, recognized for his influence far beyond sports. His contributions were formally acknowledged by the Indian government through a progression of prestigious awards: the Arjuna Award in 1994, the Khel Ratna in 1997, the Padma Shri in 1998, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008. In a historic move following his retirement in 2013, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor. This made him the first sportsperson to ever receive this distinction and, as of 2024, remains the youngest recipient. His public stature was further cemented when Time magazine included him in its list of the world's most influential people in 2010, acknowledging his massive cultural footprint.

Global Legacy and Hall of Fame Induction

Tendulkar's impact on the sport has secured his place among the absolute elite of cricket history. In 2013, to mark the 150th anniversary of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, he was selected for an all-time Test World XI, standing as one of only two specialist batsmen from the post-World War II era chosen alongside Viv Richards. His global recognition continued with the awarding of the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy at the 2010 ICC Awards, naming him cricketer of the year. The culmination of his legendary status arrived in 2019 when he was formally inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. Additionally, his influence extended to public service, serving as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha by presidential nomination from 2012 until 2018.