Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar

Tendulkar at an awards event in January 2013
Personal information
Full name	Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar
Born	(1973-04-24) 24 April 1973[1] Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Nickname	Tendlya, God of Cricket,[2][3] Little Master,[1] Master Blaster[4][5]
Height	5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Batting style	Right-handed
Bowling style	Right-arm medium, leg break, off break
Role	Batsman
International information
National side	India
Test debut (cap 187)	15 November 1989 v Pakistan
Last Test	14 November 2013 v West Indies
ODI debut (cap 74)	18 December 1989 v Pakistan
Last ODI	18 March 2012 v Pakistan
ODI shirt no.	10
Only T20I (cap 11)	1 December 2006 v South Africa
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1988	Cricket Club of India
1988–2013	Mumbai
1992	Yorkshire
2008–2013	Mumbai Indians
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA Matches 200 463 310 551 Runs scored 15,921 18,426 25,396 21,999 Batting average 53.79 44.83 57.92 45.54 100s/50s 51/68 49/96 81/116 60/114 Top score 248* 200* 248* 200* Balls bowled 4,240 8,054 7,563 10,230 Wickets 46 154 71 201 Bowling average 54.17 44.48 62.18 42.17 5 wickets in innings 0 2 0 2 10 wickets in match 0 n/a 0 n/a Best bowling 3/10 5/32 3/10 5/32 Catches/stumpings 115/– 140/– 186/– 175/–
Source: Cricinfo, 15 November 2013

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar (ⁱ/ˌsətʃɪn tɛnˈduːlkər/; Marathi: सचिन रमेश तेंडुलकर; born 24 April 1973) is an Indian former cricketer widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of the modern generation, popularly holds the title "God of Cricket" among his fans^[2] He is also acknowledged as the greatest cricketer of all time.^[6][7][8][9] He took up cricket at the age of eleven, made his Test debut against Pakistan at the age of sixteen, and went on to represent Mumbai domestically and India internationally for close to twenty-four years. He is the only player to have scored one hundred international centuries, the first batsman to score a Double Century in a One Day International, and the only player to complete more than 30,000 runs in international cricket.^[10] In October 2013, he became the 16th player and first Indian to aggregate 50,000 runs in all recognised cricket (First-class, List A and Twenty20 combined).^[11][12][13]

In 2002, Wisden Cricketers' Almanack ranked him the second greatest Test batsman of all time, behind Don Bradman, and the second greatest ODI batsman of all time, behind Viv Richards.^[14] Later in his career, Tendulkar was a part of the Indian team that won the 2011 World Cup, his first win in six World Cup appearances for India.^[15] He had previously been named "Player of the Tournament" at the 2003 edition of the tournament, held in South Africa. In 2013, he was the only Indian cricketer included in an all-time Test World XI named to mark the 150th anniversary of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack.^[16][17][18]

Tendulkar received the Arjuna Award in 1994 for outstanding sporting achievement, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 1997, India's highest sporting honour, and the Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan awards in 1999 and 2008, respectively, India's fourth and second highest civilian awards. After a few hours of his final match on 16 November 2013, the Prime Minister's Office announced the decision to award Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.^[19][20] With the scientist C. N. R. Rao, he was conferred the award on 4 February 2014 by President Pranab Mukherjee in a special ceremony in the Durbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He is the youngest recipient to date and the first ever sportsperson to receive the award.^[21][22] He also won the 2010 Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for cricketer of the year at the ICC awards.^[23] In 2012, Tendulkar was nominated to Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India.^[24] He was also the first sportsperson (and the first without an aviation background) to be awarded the honorary rank of Group Captain by the Indian Air Force.^[25] In 2012, he was named an Honorary Member of the Order of Australia.^[26]

In December 2012, Tendulkar announced his retirement from ODIs.^[27] He retired from Twenty20 cricket in October 2013^[28] and subsequently announced his retirement from all forms of cricket,^[29] retiring on 16 November 2013 after playing his 200th and final Test match, against the West Indies in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.^[30][31] Tendulkar played 664 international cricket matches in total, scoring 34,357 runs.^[32]

Early years

Tendulkar was born at Nirmal Nursing Home on 24 April 1973.^[33] His father, Ramesh Tendulkar, was a well-known Marathi novelist and his mother, Rajni, worked in the insurance industry.^[34] Ramesh named Tendulkar after his favourite music director, Sachin Dev Burman. Tendulkar has three elder siblings: two half-brothers Nitin and Ajit, and a half-sister Savita. They were Ramesh's children from his first marriage.^[35] He spent his formative years in the Sahitya Sahawas Cooperative Housing Society, Bandra (East). As a young boy, Tendulkar was considered a bully, and often picked up fights with new children in his school.^[36] He also showed an interest in tennis, idolising John McEnroe.^[37] To help curb his mischievous and bullying tendencies, Ajit introduced him to cricket in 1984. He introduced the young Sachin to Ramakant Achrekar, a famous cricket coach and a club cricketer of repute, at Shivaji Park, Dadar. In the first meeting, the young Sachin did not play his best. Ajit told Achrekar that he was feeling self-conscious due to the coach observing him, and wasn't displaying his natural game. Ajit requested the coach to give him another chance at playing, but watch while hiding behind a tree. This time, Sachin, apparently unobserved, played much better and was accepted at Achrekar's academy. Ajit is ten years elder and is credited by Sachin for playing a pivotal role in his life.

Achrekar was impressed with Tendulkar's talent and advised him to shift his schooling to Sharadashram Vidyamandir (English) High School,^[1] a school at Dadar which had a dominant cricket team and had produced many notable cricketers.^[38] Prior to this, Tendulkar had attended the Indian Education Society's New English School in Bandra (East).^[38] He was also coached under the guidance of Achrekar at Shivaji Park in the mornings and evenings.^[39] Tendulkar would practice for hours on end in the nets. If he became exhausted, Achrekar would put a one-rupee coin on the top of the stumps, and the bowler who dismissed Tendulkar would get the coin. If Tendulkar passed the whole session without getting dismissed, the coach would give him the coin. Tendulkar now considers the 13 coins he won then as some of his most prized possessions.^[40] He moved in with his aunt and uncle, who lived near Shivaji Park, during this period, due to his hectic schedule.^[38]

Meanwhile at school, he developed a reputation as a child prodigy. He had become a common conversation point in local cricketing circles, where there were suggestions already that he would become one of the greats. Sachin consistently featured in his school Shardashram Vidyamandir (English) team in Matunga Gujarati Seva Mandal (popularly coined MGSM) Shield.^[41] Besides school cricket, he also played club cricket, initially representing John Bright Cricket Club in Mumbai's premier club cricket tournament, the Kanga League,^[38] and later went on to play for the Cricket Club of India.^[42][43][44] In 1987, at the age of 14, he attended the MRF Pace Foundation in Madras (now Chennai) to train as a fast bowler, but Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee, who took a world record 355 Test wickets, was unimpressed, suggesting that Tendulkar focus on his batting instead.^[45] On 20 January 1987, he also turned out as substitute for Imran Khan's side in an exhibition game at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, to mark the golden jubilee of Cricket Club of India.^[46] A couple of months later, former Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar gave him a pair of his own ultra light pads and consoled him to not get disheartened for not getting the Mumbai Cricket Association's "Best junior cricket award"(He was 14 years that time). "It was the greatest source of encouragement for me," Tendulkar said nearly 20 years later after surpassing Gavaskar's world record of 34 Test centuries.^[47][48] Sachin served as a Ballboy in 1987 Cricket World Cup when India played against England in the semifinal in Mumbai.^[49][50] His season in 1988 was extraordinary, with Tendulkar scoring a century in every innings he played. He was involved in an unbroken 664-run partnership in a Lord Harris Shield inter-school game against St. Xavier's High School in 1988 with his friend and team-mate Vinod Kambli, who would also go on to represent India. The destructive pair reduced one bowler to tears and made the rest of the opposition unwilling to continue the game. Tendulkar scored 326 (not out) in this innings and scored over a thousand runs in the tournament.^[51] This was a record partnership in any form of cricket until 2006, when it was broken by two under-13 batsmen in a match held at Hyderabad in India.^[52]

Early domestic career

On 14 November 1987, Tendulkar was selected to represent Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, India's premier domestic First-class cricket tournament, for the 1987–88 season. However, he was not selected for the final eleven in any of the matches, though he was often used as a substitute fielder.^[38] He narrowly missed out playing alongside his idol Gavaskar, who had retired from all forms of cricket after the 1987 Cricket World Cup.^[38] A year later, on 11 December 1988, aged just 15 years and 232 days, Tendulkar made his debut for Mumbai against Gujarat at home and scored 100 not out in that match, making him the youngest Indian to score a century on First-class debut. He was handpicked to play for the team by the then Mumbai captain Dilip Vengsarkar after watching him easily negotiating India's best fast bowler at the time, Kapil Dev, in the Wankhede Stadium nets,^[1] where the Indian team had come to play against the touring New Zealand team. He followed this by scoring a century in his first Deodhar and Duleep Trophies, which are also Indian domestic tournaments.^[53]

Tendulkar finished the 1988–89 season as Mumbai's highest run-scorer.^{[note 1][54]} He also made an unbeaten century in the Irani Trophy match against Delhi at the start of the 1989–90 season, playing for the Rest of India.^[55] Sachin was picked for young Indian team to tour England twice,under the Star Cricket Club banner in 1988 and 1989.^[56][57] In the famous 1990–91 Ranji Trophy final, in which Haryana defeated Mumbai by two runs after leading on the first innings, Tendulkar's 96 from 75 deliveries was key to giving Mumbai a chance of victory as it attempted to chase 355 from only 70 overs on the final day.^[58]

His first double century (204*) was for Mumbai while playing against the visiting Australian team at the Brabourne Stadium in 1998.^[1][59] He is the only player to score a century on debut in all three of his domestic first-class tournaments (the Ranji, Irani, and Duleep Trophies).^[60] Another double century was an innings of 233* against Tamil Nadu in the semi-finals of the 2000 Ranji Trophy, which he regards as one of the best innings of his career.^[61][62][63]

Yorkshire

In 1992, at the age of 19, Tendulkar became the first overseas-born player to represent Yorkshire, which prior to Tendulkar joining the team, never selected players even from other English counties.^{[1][note 2]} Selected for Yorkshire as a replacement for the injured Australian fast bowler Craig McDermott, Tendulkar played 16 first-class matches for the county and scored 1070 runs at an average of 46.52.^[64]

International career

Early career

Raj Singh Dungarpur is credited for the selection of Tendulkar for the Indian tour of Pakistan in late 1989,^[65] and that also after just one first class season.^[66] The Indian selection committee had shown interest in selecting Tendulkar for the tour of the West Indies held earlier that year, but eventually did not select him, as they did not want him to be exposed to the dominant fast bowlers of the West Indies so early in his career. Tendulkar made his Test debut against Pakistan in Karachi in November 1989 aged just 16 years and 205 days. He made just 15 runs, being bowled by Waqar Younis, who also made his debut in that match, but was noted for how he handled numerous blows to his body at the hands of the Pakistani pace attack.^[67] In the fourth and final Test in Sialkot, he was hit on the nose by a bouncer bowled by Younis, but he declined medical assistance and continued to bat even as he gushed blood from it.^[68] In a 20 over exhibition game in Peshawar, held in parallel with the bilateral series, Tendulkar made 53 runs off 18 balls, including an over in which he scored 27 runs off leg-spinner Abdul Qadir.^{[69][note 3]} This was later called "one of the best innings I have seen" by the then Indian captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth.^[70] In all, he scored 215 runs at an average of 35.83 in the Test series, and was dismissed without scoring a run in the only One Day International (ODI) he played.^[71][72] Thus Sachin Tendulkar became the youngest player to debut for India in Tests at the age of 16 years and 205 days and also the youngest player to debut for India in ODIs at the age of 16 years and 238 days.^[73][74]

The series was followed by a tour of New Zealand in which he scored 117 runs at an average of 29.25 in Tests including an innings of 88 in the second Test.^[75] He was dismissed without scoring in one of the two one-day games he played, and scored 36 in the other.^[76] On his next tour, to England in July–August 1990, he became the second youngest cricketer to score a Test century as he made 119 not out in the second Test at Old Trafford in Manchester.^[68] Wisden described his innings as "a disciplined display of immense maturity" and also wrote:^[77]

"He looked the embodiment of India's famous opener, Gavaskar, and indeed was wearing a pair of his pads. While he displayed a full repertoire of strokes in compiling his maiden Test hundred, most remarkable were his off-side shots from the back foot. Though only 5ft 5in tall, he was still able to control without difficulty short deliveries from the English pacemen."

Tendulkar further enhanced his reputation as a future great during the 1991–1992 tour of Australia held before the 1992 Cricket World Cup, that included an unbeaten 148 in the third Test Sydney and 114 on a fast, bouncing pitch in the final Test at Perth against a world-class pace attack comprising Merv Hughes, Bruce Reid and Craig McDermott. Hughes commented to Allan Border at the time that "This little prick's going to get more runs than you, AB."^[78]

Rise through the ranks

Tendulkar's performance through the years 1994–1999 coincided with his physical peak, in his early twenties. On the day of the Hindu festival Holi, Tendulkar was told to open the batting at Auckland against New Zealand in 1994.^[79] He went on to make 82 runs off 49 balls. He scored his first ODI century on 9 September 1994 against Australia in Sri Lanka at Colombo.^[80] It took him 79 ODIs to score his first century.

Tendulkar's rise continued when he was the leading run scorer at the 1996 World Cup, scoring two centuries.^[81] He was the only Indian batsman to perform in the infamous semi-final against Sri Lanka. Tendulkar fell amid a batting collapse and the match referee, Clive Lloyd awarded Sri Lanka the match after the crowd began rioting and throwing litter onto the field.

After the World Cup, in the same year against Pakistan at Sharjah, Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin was going through a lean patch. Tendulkar and Navjot Singh Sidhu both made centuries to set a then record partnership for the second wicket. After getting out, Tendulkar found Azharuddin in two minds about whether he should bat. Tendulkar convinced Azharuddin to bat and Azharuddin subsequently unleashed 29 runs in a mere 10 balls. It enabled India to post a score in excess of 300 runs for the first time in an ODI. India went on to win that match.

This was the beginning of a period at the top of the batting world, culminating in the Australian tour of India in early 1998, with Tendulkar scoring three consecutive centuries. The focus was on the clash of the titans: Sachin Tendulkar vs Shane Warne the world's most dominating batsman and the world's leading spinner, both at the peak of their careers, clashing in a full-fledged Test series after 7 long years . In the lead-up to the series, Tendulkar famously simulated scenarios in the nets with Laxman Sivaramakrishnan the former India leg spinner donning the role of Warne. In their tour opener, Australia faced the then Ranji Champions Mumbai at the Brabourne Stadium in a 3-day first class match.^[82] Tendulkar made an unbeaten 204 as Shane Warne conceded 111 runs in 16 overs and Australia lost the match within 3 days.^[83][84] These were characterised by a premeditated plan to target Australian spinners Shane Warne and Gavin Robertson, to whom he regularly charged down the pitch to drive over the infield. This technique worked as India beat Australia in the ensuing Test series as well. He also had a role with the ball in the 5 match ODI series in India following the Tests, including a five wicket haul in an ODI in Kochi. Set 310 runs to win, Australia were cruising comfortably at 203 for 3 in the 31st over when Tendulkar turned the match for India taking wickets of Michael Bevan, Steve Waugh, Darren Lehmann, Tom Moody and Damien Martyn for just 32 runs in 10 overs.^[85] The test match success was followed by two scintillating knocks in April 1998 in a Triangular cricket tournament in Sharjah where he scored two consecutive centuries – the first in a must-win game to take India to the finals and then again in the finals, both against Australia tormenting Shane Warne once again. These twin knocks were also known as the Desert Storm innings.^[86] The innings in the finals was incidentally played on his 25th birthday. Following the series Warne ruefully joked that he was having nightmares about his Indian nemesis.^[87]

Tendulkar single-handedly won the ICC 1998 quarterfinal at Dhaka to pave way for India's entry into the semifinals, when he took four Australian wickets after scoring 141 runs in just 128 balls.^[88]

The inaugural Asian Test Championship took place in February and March 1999. Held just twice, the 1999 championship was contested by India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.^[89] The first test match between India and Pakistan in Eden Gardens was previously scheduled as the third test match of the tournament but later on was shifted to the first match of the tournament. So, Eden Gardens hosted the first match, in which Tendulkar was run out for nine after colliding with Pakistan bowler Shoaib Akhtar.Around 100000 people came to support team India during the initial four days of the tournament.The aggregate test attendance record which was made 63 years ago was broken during this test.^[90] The crowd's reaction to the dismissal was to throw objects at Akhtar, and the players were taken off the field. The match resumed after Tendulkar and the president of the ICC appealed to the crowd, however further rioting meant that the match was finished in front of a crowd of just 200 people.^[91] Tendulkar scored his 19th Test century in the second Test and the match resulted in a draw with Sri Lanka.^[92] India did not progress to the final, which was won by Pakistan, and refused to participate the next time the championship was held to increasing political tensions between India and Pakistan.^[93]

A chronic back problem flared up when Pakistan toured India in 1999, with India losing the historic Test at Chepauk despite a gritty century from Tendulkar himself. The worst was yet to come as Professor Ramesh Tendulkar, Tendulkar's father, died in the middle of the 1999 Cricket World Cup. Tendulkar flew back to India to attend the final rituals of his father, missing the match against Zimbabwe. However, he returned with a bang to the World cup scoring a century (unbeaten 140 off 101 balls) in his very next match against Kenya in Bristol. He dedicated this century to his father.^[94]

Captaincy

Tendulkar's record as captain
	Matches	Won	Lost	Drawn	Tied	No result	Win %
Test[95]	25	4	9	12	0	–	8%
ODI[96]	73	23	43	–	2	6	31.50%

Tendulkar's two tenures as captain of the Indian cricket team were not very successful. When Tendulkar took over as captain in 1996, it was with huge hopes and expectations. However, by 1997 the team was performing poorly. Azharuddin was credited with saying "Nahin jeetega! Chote ki naseeb main jeet nahin hai!",^[97] which translates into: "He won't win! It's not in the small one's destiny!".^[98]

Tendulkar, succeeding Azharuddin as captain for his second term, then led India on a tour of Australia, where the visitors were comprehensively beaten 3–0 by the newly crowned world champions.^[99] Tendulkar, however, won the player of the tournament award as well as player of the match in one of the games. After another Test series defeat, this time by a 0–2 margin at home against South Africa, Tendulkar resigned, and Sourav Ganguly took over as captain in 2000.^[100]

Tendulkar remained an integral part of the Indian team's strategic processes. He was often seen in discussion with the captain, at times actively involved in building strategies. Former captain Rahul Dravid publicly acknowledged that Tendulkar had been suggesting moves such as the promotion of Irfan Pathan up the batting order which, although only temporary, had an immediate effect on the team's fortunes. In 2007, Tendulkar was appointed vice-captain to captain Rahul Dravid.^[101] During the Indian team's 2007 tour of England, Dravid's desire to resign from the captaincy became known. The BCCI President Sharad Pawar personally offered the captaincy to Tendulkar.^[101] However, Tendulkar asked Pawar not to appoint him captain, instead recommending Mahendra Singh Dhoni to take over the reins.^[101] Pawar later revealed this conversation, crediting Tendulkar for first forwarding the name of Dhoni, who since achieved much success as captain.^[101]

Injuries and decline amid surpassing Bradman's haul

Sachin Tendulkar continued performing well in Test cricket in 2001 and 2002, with some pivotal performances with both bat and ball. Tendulkar took three wickets on the final day of the famous Kolkata Test against Australia in 2001.Tendulkar took the key wickets of Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist, centurions in the previous test.^[102]

In the 2002 series in the West Indies, Tendulkar started well, scoring 79 in the first test, and 117 in the first innings of the second Test.In the second test at Port of Spain, Sachin Tendulkar scored his 29th Test century in his 93rd test match,to equal Sir Donald Bradman's record of 29 Test hundreds.^{[103][104][105]} Then, in a hitherto unprecedented sequence, he scored 0, 0, 8 and 0 in the next four innings, getting out to technical "defects" and uncharacteristically poor strokes. He returned to form in the last test scoring 41 and 86. However, India lost the series. This might have been the beginning of the "decline" phase in his career which lasted till 2006.In third test match against England in August 2002,Sachin scored his 30th test century to surpass Bradman's haul, in his 99th test match.^[106][107] The next test match was Sachin's 100th test match.

Tendulkar made 673 runs in 11 matches in the 2003 Cricket World Cup, helping India reach the final. While Australia retained the trophy that they had won in 1999, Tendulkar was given the Man of the Tournament award.^[108]

He continued to score heavily in ODI cricket that year, with two hundreds in a tri series involving New Zealand and Australia.

The drawn series as India toured Australia in 2003/04 saw Tendulkar making his mark in the last Test of the series, with 241 not out in Sydney, putting India in a virtually unbeatable position. He followed up the innings with an unbeaten 60 in the second innings of the test.^[109] Prior to this test match, he had had an unusually horrible run of form, failing in all six innings in the preceding three tests. It was no aberration that 2003 was his worst year in test cricket, with an average of 17.25 and just one fifty.^[110]

Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 194 against Pakistan at Multan in the following series. India declared before Tendulkar reached 200; had he done so it would have been the fourth time he passed the landmark in Tests.^[111] In meeting with the press that evening, Tendulkar stated that he was disappointed and that the declaration had taken him by surprise.^[112] Many former cricketers commented that Dravid's declaration was in bad taste.^[113][114] After India won the match, the captain Rahul Dravid stated that the matter was spoken internally and put to rest.^[115]

Tennis elbow then took its toll on Tendulkar, leaving him out of the side for most of the year, coming back only for the last two tests when Australia toured India in 2004. He played a part in India's victory in Mumbai in that series with a fast 55, though Australia took the series 2–1.^[116]

On 10 December 2005 at Feroz Shah Kotla, Tendulkar scored his record-breaking 35th Test century, against the Sri Lankans. After this, Tendulkar endured the longest spell of his career without a Test century: 17 innings elapsed before he scored 101 against Bangladesh in May 2007.^[117] Tendulkar scored his 39th ODI hundred on 6 February 2006 in a match against Pakistan. He followed with a run-a-ball 42 in the second one-day international against Pakistan on 11 February 2006, and then a 95 in hostile, seaming conditions on 13 February 2006 in Lahore, which set up an Indian victory. On 19 March 2006, after scoring an unconvincing 1 off 21 balls against England in the first innings of the third Test in his home ground, Wankhede, Tendulkar was booed off the ground by a section of the crowd,^[118] the first time that he had ever faced such flak. Tendulkar was to end the three-Test series without a single half-century to his credit, and news of a shoulder operation raised more questions about his longevity. In July 2006, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that Tendulkar had overcome his injury problem following an operation and rehabilitation programme and was available for selection, and he was eventually selected for the next series.

Tendulkar's comeback came in the DLF cup in Malaysia and he was the only Indian batsman to shine. In his comeback match, against West Indies on 14 September 2006, Tendulkar responded to his critics who believed that his career was inexorably sliding with his 40th ODI century. Though he scored 141 not out, West Indies won the rain-affected match by the D/L method.^[119]

During the preparation for the 2007 World Cup, Tendulkar was criticised by Greg Chappell on his attitude.^[120] As per the report, Chappell felt that Tendulkar would be more useful down the order, while the latter felt that he would be better off opening the innings, the role he had played for most of his career. Chappell also believed that Tendulkar's repeated failures were hurting the team's chances. In a rare show of emotion, Tendulkar hit out at the comments attributed to Chappell by pointing out that no coach has ever suggested his attitude towards cricket is incorrect. On 7 April 2007, the Board of Control for Cricket in India issued a notice to Tendulkar asking for an explanation for his comments made to the media.^[121]

At the World Cup in the West Indies, Tendulkar and the Indian cricket team, led by Rahul Dravid had a dismal campaign. Tendulkar, who was pushed to bat lower down the order had scores of 7 (Bangladesh), 57 not out (Bermuda) and 0 (Sri Lanka). As a result, former Australian captain Ian Chappell, brother of the then Indian coach Greg, called for Tendulkar to retire in his column for Mumbai's Mid Day newspaper.^[122]

Return to old form and consistency

In the subsequent series against Bangladesh, Tendulkar returned to his opening slot and was Man of the Series. He continued by scoring two consecutive scores of over 90 in the Future Cup against South Africa. He was the leading run scorer and was adjudged the Man of the Series.^[123]

On the second day of the Nottingham Test (28 July 2007) Tendulkar became the third cricketer to complete 11,000 Test runs.^[124] In the subsequent One day series against England, Tendulkar was the leading run scorer from India^[125] with an average of 53.42. In the ODI Series against Australia in October 2007 Tendulkar was the leading Indian run scorer with 278 runs.^[126]

Tendulkar was dismissed seven times in 2007 between 90 and 100, including three times at 99, leading some to suggest that he struggles to cope with nerves in this phase of his innings. Tendulkar has got out 27 times in the 90s during his international career.^[127] On 8 November 2007 he got out on 99 against Pakistan in an ODI at Mohali to the bowling of Umar Gul. In the fourth ODI, he got out on 97 (off 102 balls with 16 fours) after dragging a delivery from Gul on to his stumps, falling short of another century in ODIs in 2007.

2007/08 tour of Australia

In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, 2007–08, Tendulkar showed exceptional form, becoming the leading run scorer with 493 runs in four Tests, despite consistently failing in the second innings.^[128] Sachin scored 62 runs in the first innings of the first Test at the MCG in Melbourne, but couldn't prevent a heavy 337-run win for Australia.^[129] In the controversial New Years Test at Sydney, Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 154 as India lost the Test. This was his third century at the SCG, earning him an average of 221.33 at the ground.^[130] In the third Test at the WACA cricket ground in Perth, Sachin was instrumental in India's first innings score of 330, scoring a well compiled 71, as India went on to record a historic triumph at the WACA.^[131] In the fourth Test at the Adelaide Oval, which ended in a draw, he scored 153 in the first innings, involving in a crucial 126 run stand with V.V.S. Laxman for the fifth wicket to lead India to a score of 282 for 5 from 156 for 4. He secured the Player of the Match award.^[132]

In the One-Day International Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series involving Sri Lanka and Australia, Tendulkar became the only batsman to complete 16,000 runs in ODIs.^[133] He achieved this feat against Sri Lanka on 5 February 2008 at the Gabba in Brisbane. He started the CB series well notching up scores of 10, 35, 44 and 32, but could not convert the starts into bigger scores. His form dipped a bit in the middle of the tournament, but Tendulkar came back strongly in India's must-win game against Sri Lanka at the Bellerive Ovalin Hobart, scoring 63 off 54 balls. He finished the series with a match winning 117 not out off 120 balls in the first final,^[134] and 91 runs in the second final.^[135]

Home series against South Africa

South Africa toured in March and April 2008 for a three-Test series. Tendulkar scored a five-ball duck in his only innings of the series;^[136] he sustained a groin strain in the match and as a result was forced not only to miss the second and third Tests, but also the tri-series involving Bangladesh, the 2008 Asia Cup, and the first half of the inaugural season of the IPL.^[137]

Sri Lanka Series

Before the touring Sri Lanka for three Test in July 2008, Tendulkar needed just 177 runs to go past Brian Lara's record of Test 11,953 runs. However, he failed in all six innings, scoring a total of just 95 runs. India lost the series and his average of 15.83 was his worst in a Test series with at least three matches.^[138]

Return to form and breaking the record

In the following ODI series against Sri Lanka, Tendulkar was sidelined due to injury. However, during the following Australia tour of India, he returned to fitness and form, scoring 13 and 49 in the first test before making 88 in the first innings of the second test, thus breaking the record for most number of Test runs held by Brian Lara.^[139][140] He also reached the 12,000 run mark when he was on 61.^[141] He made a fifty in the third test and 109 in the fourth, as India won the series 2–0 and regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.^[142][143]

ODI and Test Series against England

Tendulkar was again out due to injury from the first three ODIs of a 7-match ODI series at home against England, but he made 11 in the fourth ODI and 50 in the fifth, before the ODI series was called off due to the Mumbai terror attacks, the scoreline being 5–0 to India.^{[144][145][146]}

England returned for a 2-match test series in December 2008, and in the first test in Chennai, chasing 387 for victory, Tendulkar made 103 not out in a 163-run unbroken fifth wicket stand with Yuvraj Singh. This was his third century in a fourth match innings, and the first which resulted in a win.^[147] This was redemption for the Chennai Test of 1999 when chasing 271 against Pakistan, Sachin had made 136 with severe back pain and was out 17 runs short of the target, precipitating a collapse and a loss by 12 runs. He dedicated this century to the victims of the Mumbai terror attacks. Tendulkar failed in both innings in the second test, India won the series 1–0.^[148]

2009–2010

In early 2009, India revisited Sri Lanka for five ODIs, as the Pakistan series had been cancelled due to the security situation in Pakistan and the attacks in Mumbai. Tendulkar failed to reach double figures in any inning, before becoming injured.^[149]

India's next assignment was an away series against New Zealand, consisting of three Tests and five ODIs. In the ODI series, Tendulkar made a 163 not out in the third match, an innings ended by stomach cramps that forced him to retire hurt. India made 392 and won easily and won the series 3–1.^[150] Tendulkar made 160 in the first test, his 42nd Test century, and India won.^[151] He made 49 and 64 in the second test and 62 and 9 in the third, in which India were prevented from winning by rain on the last day. India won the series 1–0.^[152][153]

Tendulkar rested himself for the ODI tour of West Indies, but was back for the Compaq Cup (Tri Series) between India, SL and New Zealand in early September 2009. He made 46 and 27 in the league matches before notching up 138 in the final, as India made 319 and won by 46 runs.^[154] This was Tendulkar's 6th century in ODI finals and his third consecutive score of over 50 in such finals. India has won all six times that Tendulkar has made a hundred in an ODI final.^[155]

Tendulkar played just one innings in the ICC Champions trophy in South Africa, scoring 8 against Pakistan as India lost. The next match against Australia was washed out and he was out with food poisoning in the third match against the West Indies, as India were eliminated.^[156]

Australia returned for a seven-match ODI series in India in October, and Tendulkar made 14, 4, 32 and 40 in the first four games.^{[157][158][159][160]} In the fifth match, with the series tied at 2–2, Australia amassed 350/4 in 50 overs.^[161] Tendulkar made his 45th ODI hundred, a 175 off 141 balls. Just when it seemed that he would steer India to the large victory target, he paddle-scooped debutant bowler Clint McKay strai8ght to short fine leg, with India needing 19 from 18 balls with four wickets left. The Indian tail collapsed, and they lost by 3 runs, being all out for 347.^[162] During this match, Tendulkar also became the first player to reach 17,000 ODI runs, and achieved his personal best against Australia, as well as the third highest score in a defeat.^[163]

In the ODIs against Sri Lanka in 2009–10, Tendulkar scored 69, 43, 96 not out and 8, as India won 3–1.In the Test Series, he scored a 100 no out in the first test, which was drawn, and 40 in the second and 53 in the third test as India clinched innings victory in both tests. India won the series 2–0.^[164]

Sachin rested himself for the ODI tri-series in Bangladesh in 2010. In the Tests against Bangladesh, he made 105 not out and 16 in the first test, and 143 in the second. India won 2–0.^[165][166]

In the 2-Test Series against South Africa, Tendulkar made 7 and 100 in the first test and 106 in the first innings of the second test.^[167] In the course of the second 100 (his 47th Test Hundred) he achieved several landmarks, in that he had scored four hundreds in his last four matches and that the hundred against South Africa in the first Test was the first at home against South Africa. The century was also his hundredth score over 50 in International Test cricket, moving him to 92 international hundreds (Tests and ODIs combined).^[168] In the second match of the subsequent ODI series, Tendulkar scored 200 not out to become the world's first person to score a double century in ODI cricket.^[169]

2011 World Cup and after

From February to April, Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka hosted the 2011 World Cup. Amassing 482 runs at an average of 53.55 including two centuries, Tendulkar was India's lead run-scorer for the tournament; only Tillakaratne Dilshan of Sri Lanka scored more runs in the 2011 tournament.^[170] India defeated Sri Lanka in the final.^[171] Shortly after the victory, Tendulkar commented that "Winning the World Cup is the proudest moment of my life. ... I couldn't control my tears of joy."^[172]

Tendulkar's results in international matches[173]
	Matches	Won	Lost	Drawn	Tied	No result
Test[174]	200	72	56	72	0	–
ODI[175]	463	234	200	–	5	24
T20I[176]	1	1	–	–	–	–

India were due to tour the West Indies in June, although Tendulkar chose not to participate. He returned to the squad in July for India's tour of England.^[177] Throughout the tour there was much hype in the media about whether Tendulkar would reach his 100th century in international cricket (Test and ODIs combined). However his highest score in the Tests was 91; Tendulkar averaged 34.12 in the series as England won 4–0 as they deposed India as the No. 1 ranked Test side.^[178][179] The injury Tendulkar sustained to his right foot in 2001 flared up and as a result he was ruled out of the ODI series that followed.^[178] Tendulkar created another record on 8 November 2011 when he became the first cricketer to score 15,000 runs in Test cricket, during the opening Test match against the West Indies at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi.^[180][181]

Ian Chappell was not happy with Sachin's performance after India's tour of Australia. He says that Sachin's quest for his 100th hundred has proved to be a hurdle for the entire team and has hampered their performance on the Tour of Australia. Former India World Cup winning captain and all-rounder Kapil Dev has also voiced his opinion that Sachin should have retired from ODI's after the World Cup. Former Australian fast bowler, Geoff Lawson, has said that Sachin has the right to decide when to quit although he adds that Tendulkar should not delay it for too long.^[182] The selection committee of BCCI expectedly included Sachin in the national test squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand commencing in August 2012.^[183]

100th international century

Tendulkar scored his much awaited 100th international hundred on 16 March 2012, at Mirpur against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup.^[184] He became the first person in history to achieve this feat. Incidentally, it was Tendulkar's first ODI hundred against Bangladesh. He said "It's been a tough phase for me ... I was not thinking about the milestone, the media started all this, wherever I went, the restaurant, room service, everyone was talking about the 100th hundred. Nobody talked about my 99 hundreds. It became mentally tough for me because nobody talked about my 99 hundreds."^[185] Despite Tendulkar's century, India failed to win the match against Bangladesh, losing by 5 wickets.^[186]

Return To Ranji Trophy

After getting out bowled on 3 similar instances against the New Zealand recently and hitting a slump in form, Tendulkar returned to the Ranji Trophy to get back some form ahead of the England Series at home, in a match for Mumbai against Railways on 2 November 2012. All eyes were on Tendulkar, who was playing his first Ranji Trophy match since 2009. And he didn't disappoint smashing 137 off 136 balls with 21 fours and 3 Sixes, to take his team to 344 for 4 at stumps on day one.^[187]

However, because of a poor form in the first two Tests in the series against England, and India being humiliated in the second match of that series by 10 wickets on 26 November 2012,^[188] some people have started to question his place in the Indian team. A report by The Hindustan Times said that Tendulkar had a discussion with the national chief selector Sandeep Patil, in which he said that he would leave it to the selectors to decide on his future as he is not getting any runs.^[189] This speculation, however, was later considered to be false.^[190][191]

Then he decided to play in the knockout stage of the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy. He scored 108 in the quarter final against Baroda before being bowled by Murtuja Vahora, where Sachin was involved in a 234-run partnership with opener Wasim Jaffer (150) for the 3rd wicket at Wankhede Stadium.^[192] Mumbai eventually piled on 645/9 and won on 1st innings lead.^[193] In the semi final against Services at Palam A Ground, with Mumbai reeling at 23/3, Sachin scored 56 from 75 balls and had an 81-run 4th wicket partnership with Abhishek Nayar (70),^[194] and Mumbai eventually won on 1st innings lead after the match went into the sixth day due to rain delays.^[195] In the final against Saurashtra, he was run out for 22 following a misunderstanding with Wasim Jaffer.^[196] Mumbai eventually won the Ranji Trophy 2012–13.^[197]

He also played in the Irani Trophy for Mumbai, where he scored 140* against Rest of India and helped Mumbai to score 409 in reply to Rest of India's 526. This was also his 81st hundred in first-class cricket, equalling Sunil Gavaskar's Indian record for most first-class hundreds.^{[198][199][200]}

Retirement

Following poor performance in the 2012 series against England, Tendulkar announced his retirement from One Day Internationals on 23 December 2012, while noting that he will be available for Test cricket.^{[201][202][203]} In response to the news, former India captain Sourav Ganguly noted that Tendulkar could have played the up-coming series against Pakistan, while Anil Kumble said it would be "tough to see an Indian (ODI) team list without Tendulkar's name in it", and Javagal Srinath mentioned that Tendulkar "changed the way ODIs were played right from the time he opened in New Zealand in 1994".^[204]

After playing his lone Twenty20 International in 2006 against South Africa, he stated that he would not play T20 Internationals any more.^[205] He announced his retirement from IPL after his team Mumbai Indians beat Chennai Super Kings by 23 runs at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on 26 May to win the Pepsi Indian Premier League 2013.^[28] He retired from Twenty20 cricket and limited-overs cricket, after playing the 2013 Champions League Twenty20 in Sept–Oct 2013 in India for Mumbai Indians.^[206]

On 10 October 2013 Tendulkar announced that he would retire from all cricket after the two-Test series against West Indies in November.^[207] Later the BCCI confirmed that the two matches will be played at Kolkata and Mumbai, making the farewell happen at his home ground on Tendulkar's request.^[208][209] He scored 74 runs in his last test innings against West Indies, thus failing short by 79 runs to complete 16,000 runs in test cricket.^[210] The Cricket Association of Bengal and the Mumbai Cricket Association organised events to mark his retirement from the sport.^[211][212] Various national and international figures from cricket, politics, Bollywood and other fields spoke about him in a day-long Salaam Sachin Conclave organised by India Today.^[213][214]

Indian Premier League and Champions League

Tendulkar's record in Twenty20 matches[173]
	Matches	Runs	HS	100s	50s	Avg.
T20I[215]	1	10	10	0	0	10.00
IPL[216]	78	2334	100*	1	13	34.83
CLT20[217]	13	265	69	0	1	20.38

Tendulkar was made the icon player and captain for his home side, the Mumbai Indians in the inaugural Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition in 2008.^[218] As an icon player, he was signed for a sum of US$1,121,250, 15% more than the second-highest paid player in the team, Sanath Jayasuriya.^[219]

In 2010 edition of Indian Premier League, Mumbai Indians reached the final of the tournament. Tendulkar made 618 runs in 14 innings during the tournament, breaking Shaun Marsh's record of most runs in an IPL season. He was declared player of the tournament for his performance during the season. He also won Best Batsman and Best Captain awards at 2010 IPL Awards ceremony.^[220]

Sachin Tendulkar captained Mumbai Indians in 4 league matches of second edition of the league. He scored 68 in the first match and 48 against Guyana. But Mumbai Indians failed to qualify for semifinals after losing the initial two matches. Tendulkar scored 135 runs.^[221]

In the 2011 IPL, against Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Tendulkar scored his maiden Twenty20 hundred. He scored 100 not out off 66 balls. In 51 matches in the IPL Tendulkar has scored 1,723 runs, making him the second-highest run-scorer in the competition's history.^[222]

Style of play

Tendulkar is cross-dominant: he bats, bowls and throws with his right hand, but writes with his left hand.^[223] He also practices left-handed throws at the nets on a regular basis. Cricinfo columnist Sambit Bal has described him as the "most wholesome batsman of his time".^[1] His batting is based on complete balance and poise while limiting unnecessary movements and flourishes. He appears to show little preference for the slow and low wickets which are typical in India, and has scored many centuries on the hard, bouncy pitches in South Africa and Australia.^[1] He is known for his unique punch style of hitting the ball over square. He is also renowned for his picture-perfect straight drive, often completed with no follow-through. The straight drive is often said to be his favourite shot.^[224] In 2008, Sunil Gavaskar, in an article he wrote in the AFP, remarked that "it is hard to imagine any player in the history of the game who combines classical technique with raw aggression like the little champion does".^[225]

Sir Donald Bradman, considered by many as the greatest batsman of all time, considered Tendulkar to have a batting style similar to his. In his biography, it is stated that "Bradman was most taken by Tendulkar's technique, compactness and shot production, and had asked his wife to have a look at Tendulkar, having felt that Tendulkar played like him. Bradman's wife, Jessie, agreed that they did appear similar."^[226][227]

Former Australian cricket team coach John Buchanan voiced his opinion that Tendulkar had become susceptible to the short ball early in his innings because of a lack of footwork.^[228] Buchanan also believes Tendulkar has a weakness while playing left-arm pace.^[228] He was affected by a series of injuries since 2004. Since then Tendulkar's batting has tended to be less attacking. Explaining this change in his batting style, he has acknowledged that he is batting differently because, firstly, no batsman can bat the same way for the entire length of a long career and, secondly, he is a senior member of the team now and thus has more responsibility. During the early part of his career, he was a more attacking batsman and frequently scored centuries at close to a run a ball. Ian Chappell, former Australian player, remarked in 2007 that "Tendulkar now, is nothing like the player he was when he was a young bloke".^[229]

Tendulkar has incorporated several modern and unorthodox strokes into his repertoire, including the paddle sweep, the scoop over short fine leg and the slash to third man over the slips' heads, over the last seven or eight years. He is often praised for his ability to adapt to the needs of his body and yet keep scoring consistently.^[230]

While Tendulkar is not a regular bowler, he can bowl medium pace, leg spin, and off spin. He often bowls when two batsmen of the opposite team have been batting together for a long period, as he can often be a useful partnership breaker.^[231] With his bowling, he has helped secure an Indian victory on more than one occasion.^[232] He has taken 201 international wickets – 46 in Tests, 154 in ODIs where he is India's tenth highest wicket taker, and one wicket in Twenty20 Internationals.^[233]

Fan following

Tendulkar's entry into world cricket was hyped up by former Indian stars and those who had seen him play. Tendulkar's consistent performances earned him a fan following across the globe, including amongst Australian crowds, where Tendulkar has consistently scored centuries.^[78] One of the most popular sayings by his fans is "Cricket is my religion and Sachin is my God".^[234] Cricinfo mentions in his profile that "... Tendulkar remains, by a distance, the most worshipped cricketer in the world."^[235] During the Australian tour of India in 1998 Matthew Hayden said "I have seen God. He bats at no. 4 in India in Tests.".^[236] However, on God, Sachin himself is reported to have said "I am not God of cricket. I make mistakes, God doesn't"^[237] Sachin made a special appearance in the Bollywood film Stumped in 2003, appearing as himself.^[238]

There have been many instances when Sachin's fans have done extreme activities over Sachin's dismissal in the game. As per reports by many Indian newspapers, a person hung himself being distressed over Sachin's failure to reach 100th century.^[239] Sudhir Kumar Chaudhary, a fan of Tendulkar from Bihar, has followed almost all the matches played by Sachin since 2003 and has sacrificed his personal life to watch Sachin's play.^[240]

At home in Mumbai, Tendulkar's fan following has caused him to lead a different lifestyle. Ian Chappell has said that he would be unable to cope with the lifestyle Tendulkar was forced to lead, having to "wear a wig and go out and watch a movie only at night".^[229] In an interview with Tim Sheridan, Tendulkar admitted that he sometimes went for quiet drives in the streets of Mumbai late at night when he would be able to enjoy some peace and silence.^[241] Tendulkar has a presence in the popular social networking site Twitter with the user name sachin_rt since May 2010.^[242]

Career achievements

Sachin Tendulkar is the most prolific run scorer in one-day internationals with 18,426 runs.^[243] With a current aggregate of 15,470 Test runs, he surpassed Brian Lara's previous record tally of 11,953 runs as the highest run scorer in test matches in the second Test of Australia's 2008 tour of India in Mohali.^[244][245] Tendulkar described "It is definitely the biggest achievement in 19 years of my career" on the day he achieved the record.^[246] He also holds the record of highest number of centuries in both Test (51) and ODI (49) cricket. (49). On 16 March 2012, Tendulkar scored his 100th international hundred.^[247] It came against Bangladesh in the league matches of Asia Cup 2012. Throughout his career, he has made a strong impact on Indian cricket and was, at one time, the foundation of most of the team's victories. In recognition with his impact on sport in a cricket-loving country like India, Tendulkar has been granted the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award, Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India.^[248] He was also chosen as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1997 and is ranked by the Wisden 100 as the second best test batsman and ODI batsman of all time.^[249]

Tendulkar has also consistently done well in Cricket World Cups. Tendulkar was the highest run scorer of the 1996 Cricket World Cup and 2003 Cricket World Cup.^[250] After his century against England during group stages of 2011 Cricket World Cup, he became the player to hit most number of centuries in Cricket World Cups with six centuries and the first player to score 2000 runs in World Cup cricket.^[251][252] Tendulkar has scored over 1000 runs in a calendar year in ODIs 7 times, and in 1998 he scored 1894 runs, easily the record for the highest number of runs scored by any player in a single calendar year for one day internationals.^[253] On 24 February 2010, Tendulkar broke the previous world record for highest individual innings in an ODI, and became the first male cricketer to score a double-century in one-day cricket. He made 200 runs and broke the previous record of 194 runs, jointly held by Pakistan opener Saeed Anwar and Zimbabwe's Charles Coventry.^[254]

He has been Man of the Match 13 times in Test matches and Man of the Series four times,^[255] out of them twice in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The performances earned him respect from Australian cricket fans and players.^[78] Similarly he has been Man of the Match 62 times in One day International matches and Man of the Series 14 times.^[256] He is the leading run-scorer and century maker in Test and one-day international cricket.^{[257][258][259]} He is the first player to score a double century in Men's ODI cricket.^[260][261] He also holds the world record for playing highest number of Test and ODI matches.^[262] Tendulkar is the only cricketer to accomplish the feat of scoring a hundred centuries in international cricket which includes 49 ODI and 51 Test centuries.^[263] He is also the only player to score fifty centuries in Test cricket,^[264] and the first to score fifty centuries in all international cricket combined. On 17 October 2008, when he surpassed Brian Lara's record for the most runs scored in Test cricket, he also became the first batsman to score 12,000, 13,000, 14,000 and 15,000 runs in that form of the game,^[244] having also been the third batsman and first Indian to pass 11,000 runs in Test cricket.^[265] He was also the first player to score 10,000 runs in one-day internationals, and also the first player to cross every subsequent 1000-run mark that has been crossed in ODI cricket history.^[266] In the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, Tendulkar surpassed Australia's Allan Border to become the player to cross the 50-run mark the most number of times in Test cricket history, and also the second ever player to score 11 Test centuries against Australia, tying with Sir Jack Hobbs of England more than 70 years previously.^[267] On 8 November 2011, Tendulkar became the first batsman to score 15,000 runs in Test Cricket.

National honours

• 1994 – Arjuna Award, by the Government of India in recognition of his outstanding achievement in sports.^[268]
• 1997–98 – Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India's highest honour given for achievement in sports.^[269]
• 1999 – Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award.^[270]
• 2001 – Maharashtra Bhushan Award, Maharashtra State's highest Civilian Award.^[271]
• 2008 – Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award.^[272]
• 2014 – Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.^[21][22]

Other honours

• 1997 – Wisden Cricketer of the Year.^[273]
• 2003 – Player of the tournament in 2003 Cricket World Cup.^[274]
• 2004, 2007, 2010 – ICC World ODI XI.^[275]
• 2009, 2010, 2011 – ICC World Test XI.
• 2010 – Outstanding Achievement in Sport and the Peoples Choice Award at The Asian Awards in London.^[276]
• 2010 – Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World.^[277]
• 2010 – ICC Award-Sir Garfield Sobers trophy for cricketer of the year.^[278]
• 2010 – LG People's Choice Award.^[279]
• 2010 – Made a Honorary Group captain by the Indian Air Force.^[280]
• 2011 – BCCI Cricketer of the Year award.^[281]
• 2011 – Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year award.^[282]
• 2012 – Wisden India Outstanding Achievement award.^[283]
• 2012 – Honorary Life Membership of Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG)^[284][285]
• 2012 – Honorary Member of the Order of Australia, given by the Australian government.^[286][287]
• 2013 – Indian Postal Service released a stamp of Tendulkar and he became the second Indian after Mother Teresa to have such stamp released in their lifetime.^[288]

Controversies

Mike Denness incident

In India's 2001 tour of South Africa in the second test match between India and South Africa at St George's Park, Port Elizabeth match referee Mike Denness fined four Indian players for excessive appealing as well as the Indian captain Sourav Ganguly for not controlling his team.^[289] Tendulkar was given a suspended ban of one game by Mike Denness in light of alleged ball tampering. Television cameras picked up images that suggested Tendulkar may have been involved in cleaning the seam of the cricket ball.^[290] This can, under some conditions, amount to altering the condition of the ball. The match referee Mike Denness found Sachin Tendulkar guilty of ball tampering charges and handed him a one Test match ban.^[291] The incident escalated to include allegations of racism,^[292] and led to Mike Denness being barred from entering the venue of the third test match. The ICC revoked the status of the match as a Test as the teams rejected the appointed referee.^[293] The charges against Tendulkar and Sehwag's ban for excessive appealing triggered a massive backlash from the Indian public.^[294]

Ferrari import tax

In commemorating Tendulkar's feat of equalling Don Bradman's 29 centuries in Test Cricket, automotive giant Ferrari invited Tendulkar to its paddock in Silverstone on the eve of the British Grand Prix on 23 July 2002, to receive a Ferrari 360 Modena from the F1 world champion Michael Schumacher.^[295] On 4 September 2002 India's then finance minister Jaswant Singh wrote to Tendulkar telling him that the government will waive customs duty imposed on the car as a measure to applaud his feat.^[296] However the rules at the time stated that the customs duty can be waived only when receiving an automobile as a prize and not as a gift. It is claimed that the proposals to change the law (Customs Act) was put forth in Financial Bill in February 2003 and amended was passed as a law in May 2003. Subsequently the Ferrari was allowed to be brought to India without payment of the customs duty (11.3 million (US$180,000) or 120% on the car value of .75 crore (US$120,000)).^[297] When the move to waive customs duty became public in July 2003, political and social activists protested the waiver^[298] and filed a PIL in the Delhi High Court. With the controversy snowballing, Fiat India agreed to pay the import duty.^[299]

Personal life

Family

On 24 May 1995,^[300] at the age of 22, Tendulkar married Anjali, a paediatrician and daughter of Gujarati industrialist Anand Mehta and British social worker Annabel Mehta. Sachin's father-in-law, Anand Mehta, is a seven-time national bridge champion.^[301] Anjali is six years his senior.^[302] His wife Anjali said in an interview that she first met him at the Mumbai airport when he returned from his first tour of England in 1990, after scoring his maiden Test ton and when she was there to pick up her mother and Sachin was arriving with the Indian team. They had a courtship of five years and had got engaged in 1994 in New Zealand.^[303] They have two children, Sara (born 12 October 1997) and Arjun (born 24 September 1999). Arjun, a left handed batsman, has recently been included in under-14 probables list of Mumbai Cricket Association for off-season training camp. In January 2013 he was selected in Mumbai under-14 team for the west zone league.^[304]

Beliefs

Tendulkar is an ardent devotee of Sathya Sai Baba of Puttaparthi.^{[305][306][307]} He has visited Puttaparthi on several occasions to seek Baba's blessings.^[305][308] In 1997, Tendulkar captained the Indian National side, playing against a World Eleven team, in the Unity Cup which was held at the hill view stadium in Puttaparthi, in Baba's presence.^[309][310] After Sai Baba's death, Tendulkar broke into tears when he saw the body of Baba in Puttaparthi, and cancelled his birthday celebrations.^{[311][312][313]} The cricketer is also known to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi at home and frequently visits temples during night when it is calm and quiet.^[314][315] He performed the superstitious rituals of Nāga Dosha Pooja and Sarpa Samskara in 2006 at the Kukke Subramanya Temple in Mangalore.^{[316][317][318][319]}

Business interests

Tendulkar's immense popularity has led him to be an early pioneer in India on cricket business dealings when he signed a record sports management deal with WorldTel in 1995, the value of the deal being 300 million (US$4.8 million) over five years.^[320][321] His next contract with WorldTel in 2001 was valued at 800 million (US$13 million) over five years.^[322] In 2006, he signed a contract with Saatchi and Saatchi's ICONIX valued at 1.8 billion (US$29 million) over three years.^[323]

Tendulkar has opened two restaurants: Tendulkar's^[324] (Colaba, Mumbai) and Sachin's^[325] (Mulund, Mumbai) and Bangalore. Sachin owns these restaurants in partnership with Sanjay Narang of Mars Restaurants.

In 2007, Tendulkar also announced a JV with the Future Group and Manipal Group to launch healthcare and sports fitness products under the brand name 'S Drive and Sach'.^[326] A series of comic books by Virgin Comics is also due to be published featuring him as a superhero.^[327]

Tendulkar is the 51st richest sportsman in the world according to Forbes' list of world's highest-paid athletes for the year 2013, with his total earnings estimated to be USD 22 million.^{[328][329][330]} In October 2013, the net worth of Tendulkar was estimated at USD 160 million by Wealth X, making him India's wealthiest cricket player.^[331][332]

Commercial endorsements

Sachin Tendulkar has been sponsored by several brands throughout his career including Boost (1990–present),^[333] Pepsi (1992–2009),^[334] Action Shoes (1995–2000),^[335] MRF (1999–2009),^[336] Adidas (2000–10), Britannia (2001–07),^[337] Fiat Palio (2001–03),^[338] TVS (2002–05),^[339] ESPN Star Sports (2002–present),^[340] Sunfeast (2007–13),^[341] Canon (2006–09),^[342] Airtel (2004–06),^[343] Reynolds (2007–present),^[344] G-Hanz (2005–07),^[345] Sanyo BPL (2007–present),^[346] Toshiba (2010–present),^[347] Colgate-Palmolive,^[348] Philips,^[348] VISA,^[348] Castrol India (2011–12),^[349] Ujala Techno Bright,^[350] Coca-Cola (2011–13)^[351] and Musafir.com (2013–present).^[352]

He has also been a spokesperson for National Egg Coordination Committee (2003–05),^[353] AIDS Awareness Campaign (2005)^[354] and Luminous India (2010–present).^[355]

Nominated to Rajya Sabha

In April 2012, Tendulkar accepted the Rajya Sabha nomination proposed by the president of India and became the first active sportsperson and cricketer to have been nominated.^[356] Former cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar,^[357] Ajit Wadekar,^[358] Madan Lal^[358] expressed their surprise over this move.

On 2 May, Tendulkar was elected to seat number 103 in the Rajya Sabha^[359] and took the oath on 4 June.^[360] He refused to take the bungalow allotted to him in New Delhi calling it "waste of tax payer's money" as he resides in Mumbai.^[361]

Philanthropy

Tendulkar sponsors 200 underprivileged children every year through Apnalaya, a Mumbai-based NGO associated with his mother-in-law, Annabel Mehta.^[362][363] A request from Sachin on Twitter raised 10.25 million (US$160,000) through Sachin's crusade against cancer for the Crusade against Cancer foundation.^[364][365] Sachin Tendulkar spent nine hours on the 12-hour Coca-Cola-NDTV Support My School telethon on 18 September 2011 that helped raise 7 crore – 20 million more than the target – for from the creation of basic facilities, particularly toilets for girl students, in 140 government schools across the country.^[366]

Biographies

Sachin Tendulkar has been the subject of various books. The following is the listing of books focused on Tendulkar's career:

• Sachin: The Story of the World's Greatest Batsman by Gulu Ezekiel. Publisher: Penguin Global. ISBN 978-0-14-302854-3^[367]
• Sachin Tendulkar Opus^[368]
• The A to Z of Sachin Tendulkar by Gulu Ezekiel. Publisher: Penguin Global. ISBN 978-81-7476-530-7^[369]
• Sachin Tendulkar-a definitive biography by Vaibhav Purandare. Publisher: Roli Books. ISBN 81-7436-360-2^[370]
• Sachin Tendulkar – Masterful by Peter Murray, Ashish Shukla. Publisher: Rupa. ISBN 81-7167-806-8^[371]
• If Cricket is a Religion, Sachin is God by Vijay Santhanam, Shyam Balasubramanian. Publisher: HarperCollins India ISBN 978-81-7223-821-6^[372]
• Master Stroke: 100 Centuries of Sachin Tendulkar by Neelima Athalye. Publisher: Sakal Publications. ISBN 978-93-80571-84-3^[373]
• Dhruvtara, a book on cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar, was launched as an audio book on Monday, 15 October 2012 to mark White Cane Day.^[374]
• Sachin ke sau shatak by Dharmender Panth, a book on Tendulkar's 100 centuries written in Hindi. ISBN 9788123765242^[375]
• Sachin Tendulkar: Masterful by Peter Murray, Ashish Shukla. Publisher:Murray Advertising. ISBN 81-7167-806-8^[376]

See also

• List of International cricket centuries by Sachin Tendulkar
• Achievements of Sachin Tendulkar
• Collection of quotations related to Sachin Tendulkar
• List of ODI awards for Sachin Tendulkar
• List of One Day International cricket records
• List of fastest to reach multiples of 1000 runs in odi
• Indian national cricket captains
• Politics and sports

Notes

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sachin Tendulkar.

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Sachin Tendulkar

• Player profile: Sachin Tendulkar from ESPNcricinfo
• Player profile: Sachin Tendulkar from CricketArchive
• Player profile: Sachin Tendulkar from Yahoo! Cricket
• Sachin Tendulkar's profile page on Wisden
• Sachin Tendulkar's official page on Facebook.
• sachin tendulkar on Twitter

Awards and achievements Awards and achievements Preceded by Mohammad Azharuddin Indian National Test Cricket Captain 1996/97–1997/98 Succeeded by Mohammad Azharuddin Preceded by Mohammad Azharuddin Indian National Test Cricket Captain 1999/2000 Succeeded by Sourav Ganguly Preceded by Leander Paes and Nameirakpam Kunjarani Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna 1997/1998 Succeeded by Jyotirmoyee Sikdar Preceded by Anil Kumble Indian Awardees of Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1997 Succeeded by Rahul Dravid

v t e Bharat Ratna laureates Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1954) C. Rajagopalachari (1954) C. V. Raman (1954) Bhagwan Das (1955) Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya (1955) Jawaharlal Nehru (1955) Govind Ballabh Pant (1957) Dhondo Keshav Karve (1958) Bidhan Chandra Roy (1961) Purushottam Das Tandon (1961) Dr. Rajendra Prasad (1962) Dr. Zakir Hussain (1963) Pandurang Vaman Kane (1963) Lal Bahadur Shastri (1966) Indira Gandhi (1971) V. V. Giri (1975) K. Kamaraj (1976) Mother Teresa (1980) Acharya Vinoba Bhave (1983) Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (1987) M. G. Ramachandran (1988) B. R. Ambedkar (1990) Nelson Mandela (1990) Rajiv Gandhi (1991) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1991) Morarji Desai (1991) Abul Kalam Azad (1992) J. R. D. Tata (1992) Satyajit Ray (1992) A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (1997) Gulzarilal Nanda (1997) Aruna Asaf Ali (1997) M. S. Subbulakshmi (1998) Chidambaram Subramaniam (1998) Jayaprakash Narayan (1998) Ravi Shankar (1999) Amartya Sen (1999) Gopinath Bordoloi (1999) Lata Mangeshkar (2001) Bismillah Khan (2001) Bhimsen Joshi (2008) C. N. R. Rao (2014) Sachin Tendulkar (2014)

v t e Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardees Abhinav Bindra Anjali Bhagwat Anju Bobby George Dhanraj Pillay Gagan Narang Geet Sethi Homi Motivala Jyotirmoyee Sikdar Karnam Malleswari K. M. Beenamol Kunjarani Leander Paes Manavjit Singh Sandhu Mahendra Singh Dhoni Mary Kom Pankaj Advani Pullela Gopichand Pushpendra Kumar Garg Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore Ronjan Sodhi Sachin Tendulkar Saina Nehwal Sushil Kumar Vijay Kumar Vijender Singh Viswanathan Anand Yogeshwar Dutt

v t e India Cricket Team Squad:  Sehwag 1 Ishant 3 Harbhajan 3 Raina 5 Rayudu 6 Mohit 7 Dhoni (c) 8 Jadeja 9 Mishra 11 Shami 12 Yuvraj 15 B Kumar 16 Pujara 18 Kohli 19 Karthik 23 V Kumar 25 Dhawan 26 Vijay 27 Rahane 29 Aaron 30 Ojha 34 Zaheer 45 Rohit 73 Yadav 77 Unadkat 84 Binny 99 Ashwin Coaches:  Coach: Duncan Fletcher  Bowling Coach: Joe Dawes

v t e India Test cricket captains 1932–1933/34: Nayudu 1936: Vizianagaram 1946: Pataudi, Sr. 1947/48–1952/53: Amarnath 1951/52–1952/53: Hazare 1954/55; 1958/59: Mankad 1955/56; 1958/59: Ahmed 1955/56–1956/57; 1958/59: Umrigar 1958/59: Adhikari 1959: Gaekwad 1959: Roy 1959/60: Ramchand 1960/61–1961/62; 1961/62: Contractor 1961/62–1974/75: Pataudi, Jr. 1967/68: Borde 1970/71–1974: Wadekar 1974/75; 1979: Venkataraghavan 1975/76; 1978/79–1984/85: Gavaskar 1975/75–1978/79: Bedi 1979/80; 1979/80: Viswanath 1982/83–1986/87: Kapil Dev 1987/88–1988/89: Vengsarkar 1987/88: Shastri 1989/90: Srikkanth 1989/90–1998/99: Azhar 1996/97–1999/00: Tendulkar 2000/01–2005/06: Ganguly 2003/04; 2004/05; 2005/06–2007: Dravid 2005/06; 2009; 2010; 2012: Sehwag 2007–2008: Kumble 2008; 2008–: Dhoni Italics denote deputised captaincy

v t e India ODI cricket captains 1974: Wadekar 1975–1979: Venkataraghavan 1975/76–1978/79: Bedi 1980/81–1985/86: Gavaskar 1980/81: Viswanath 1982/83–1992/93: Kapil Dev 1983/84: Kirmani 1984/85: Amarnath 1986/87–1991/92: Shastri 1987/88–1988/89: Vengsarkar 1989/90: Srikkanth 1989/90–1999: Azharuddin 1996–1999/00: Tendulkar 1997/98–1999/00: Jadeja 1999–2005: Ganguly 2000/01–2007: Dravid 2001/02: Kumble 2003–2011: Sehwag 2007–: Dhoni 2010–2011: Raina 2010–2011: Gambhir

India squads v t e India squad – 1992 Cricket World Cup 1 Azharuddin (c) 2 Kapil Dev 3 Srikkanth 4 Shastri 5 Manjrekar 6 Tendulkar 7 Jadeja 8 Kambli 9 Amre 10 Prabhakar 11 Srinath 12 More (wk) 13 Raju 14 Banerjee v t e India squad – 1996 Cricket World Cup Semi-Finalists 1 Azharuddin (c) 2 Tendulkar 3 Jadeja 4 Sidhu 5 Kambli 6 Manjrekar 7 Mongia (wk) 8 Srinath 9 Prasad 10 Kumble 11 Prabhakar 12 Raju 13 Ankola 14 Kapoor Coach: Wadekar (Coach cum Manager) v t e India squad – 1999 Cricket World Cup 1 Azharuddin (c) 2 Ganguly 3 Jadeja 4 Ramesh 5 Dravid 6 Robin Singh 7 Agarkar 8 Kumble 9 Mongia (wk) 10 Tendulkar 11 Prasad 12 Chopra 13 Mohanty 14 Srinath 15 Khurasiya Coach: Gaekwad v t e India squad – 2003 Cricket World Cup (Runners-up) 3 Harbhajan 5 Dravid 7 Srinath 9 Agarkar 10 Tendulkar 11 Kaif 12 Yuvraj 18 Kumble 20 Patel 24 Ganguly (c) 28 Mongia 34 Zaheer 44 Sehwag 64 Nehra 66 Bangar Coach: Wright v t e India squad – 2007 Cricket World Cup 3 Harbhajan 7 Dhoni 10 Tendulkar 12 Yuvraj 13 Munaf 19 Dravid (c) 21 Ganguly 27 Uthappa 34 Zaheer 36 Sreesanth 37 Kumble 44 Sehwag 56 Pathan 68 Agarkar 99 Karthik Coach: Chappell v t e India squad – 2011 Cricket World Cup (2nd Title) 3 Harbhajan 5 Gambhir 7 Dhoni (c & wk) 10 Tendulkar 11 Chawla 12 Yuvraj 13 Munaf 18 Kohli 28 Yusuf 34 Zaheer 36 Sreesanth 44 Sehwag 48 Raina 64 Nehra 99 Ashwin Coach: Kirsten Praveen Kumar was injured and replaced by Sreesanth.

v t e Mumbai cricket team – current squad  Abdulla  Dabholkar  Harmeet  Jaffer  Javed  Kulkarni  Marathe  Nayar  Pawar  Lad  Rahane  Sharma (c)  Salvi  H Shah  Sandhu  Shaikh  Tare  Waingankar  S Yadav  Zaheer (vc) Coach: Kulkarni

v t e Mumbai Indians – current squad 1 R Dhawan 2 J Khan 3 Harbhajan 4 Marathe 5 Nechim 6 Blizzard 7 Franklin 9 Rayudu 12 Bumrah 13 M Patel 14 Ponting 16 S Yadav 18 Coulter-Nile 19 D Karthik 20 A Patel 23 Chahal 24 Oram 25 Johnson 27 Tare 30 P Ojha 32 Maxwell 33 Suyal 45 Rohit (c) 50 DR Smith 51 Saxena 55 Pollard 64 Hughes 89 Amitoze 91 Kulkarni 99 Malinga Coach: Wright

v t e Batsmen with a Test batting average above 50 Australia Donald Bradman (99.94) Greg Chappell (53.86) Michael Clarke (52.20) Ricky Ponting (51.85) Jack Ryder (51.62) Michael Hussey (51.52) Steve Waugh (51.06) Matthew Hayden (50.73) Allan Border (50.56) England Herbert Sutcliffe (60.73) Eddie Paynter (59.23) Ken Barrington (58.67) Wally Hammond (58.45) Jack Hobbs (56.94) Len Hutton (56.67) Ernest Tyldesley (55.00) Denis Compton (50.06) India Cheteshwar Pujara (67.63) Vinod Kambli (54.20) Sachin Tendulkar (53.79) Rahul Dravid (52.31) Sunil Gavaskar (51.12) Pakistan Javed Miandad (52.57) Mohammad Yousuf (52.29) Younus Khan (51.17) South Africa Graeme Pollock (60.97) Jacques Kallis (55.44) Dudley Nourse (53.81) Hashim Amla (52.32) AB de Villiers (51.41) Sri Lanka Kumar Sangakkara (56.98) Mahela Jayawardena (50.38) West Indies George Headley (60.83) Everton Weekes (58.61) Garfield Sobers (57.78) Clyde Walcott (56.68) Charlie Davis (54.20) Brian Lara (53.17) Shivnarine Chanderpaul (51.52) Viv Richards (50.23) Zimbabwe Andy Flower (51.54) Minimum 20 innings. Current players are listed in italics.

v t e Batsmen with a ODI batting average above 40 Australia George Bailey (54.48) Michael Bevan (53.58) Michael Hussey (48.15) Adam Voges (45.78) Michael Clarke (44.88) Dean Jones (44.61) Matthew Hayden (43.80) Ricky Ponting (42.03) Callum Ferguson (41.43) Shane Watson (41.38) Damien Martyn (40.80) Greg Chappell (40.18) Bangladesh Nasir Hossain (42.88) England Jonathan Trott (51.25) Kevin Pietersen (40.73) Eoin Morgan (40.66) Nick Knight (40.41) Chris Broad (40.02) India Mahendra Singh Dhoni (52.43) Virat Kohli (51.77) Shikhar Dhawan (46.08) Sachin Tendulkar (44.83) Sourav Ganguly (41.02) New Zealand Ross Taylor (40.07) Glenn Turner (47.00) Pakistan Zaheer Abbas (47.62) Misbah-ul-Haq (45.13) Mohammad Yousuf (41.71) Javed Miandad (41.70) South Africa Hashim Amla (54.85) AB de Villiers (48.50) Jacques Kallis (45.26) Boeta Dippenaar (42.23) Lance Klusener (41.10) Gary Kirsten (40.95) Sri Lanka Kumar Sangakkara (40.11) West Indies Viv Richards (47.00) Gordon Greenidge (45.03) Ramnaresh Sarwan (42.67) Shivnarine Chanderpaul (41.60) Desmond Haynes (41.37) Brian Lara (40.48) The Netherlands Ryan ten Doeschate (67.00) Tom Cooper (48.80) Minimum 20 innings. Current players are listed in italics.

v t e Batsmen with 10,000 or more runs in Test cricket Australia Ricky Ponting (13,378) Allan Border (11,174) Steve Waugh (10,927) India Sachin Tendulkar (15,921) Rahul Dravid (13,288) Sunil Gavaskar (10,122) South Africa Jacques Kallis (13,289) Sri Lanka Mahela Jayawardene (10,806) Kumar Sangakkara (10,486) West Indies Brian Lara (11,953) Shivnarine Chanderpaul (10,830) Current players are listed in italics.

v t e Batsmen with 10,000 or more runs in ODI cricket Australia Ricky Ponting (13,704) India Sachin Tendulkar (18,426) Sourav Ganguly (11,363) Rahul Dravid (10,889) Pakistan Inzamam-ul-Haq (11,739) South Africa Jacques Kallis (11,498) Sri Lanka Sanath Jayasuriya (13,430) Kumar Sangakkara (11,595) Mahela Jayawardene (11,301) West Indies Brian Lara (10,405)

v t e ODI cricketers who have scored 3000 runs and taken 150 wickets Abdul Razzaq (PAK) Andrew Flintoff (ENG) Chris Cairns (NZ) Chris Gayle (WI) Chris Harris (NZ) Imran Khan (PAK) Jacques Kallis (SA) Kapil Dev (IND) Lance Klusener (SA) Carl Hooper (WI) Sachin Tendulkar (IND) Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) Shahid Afridi (PAK) Shakib Al Hasan (BAN) Shane Watson (AUS) Shaun Pollock (SA) Steve Waugh (AUS) Wasim Akram (PAK)

Authority control WorldCat VIAF: 53288006 LCCN: n89265611 GND: 130548944

Persondata
Name	Tendulkar, Sachin Ramesh
Alternative names	सचिन रमेश तेंडुलकर; Tendulkar, Sachin; The Little Master
Short description	Indian cricketer
Date of birth	24 April 1973
Place of birth	Mumbai, India
Date of death
Place of death