An Overview

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is a former Indian cricketer and widely considered one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the sport. He is the leading run-scorer and century-maker in Test and One Day International (ODI) cricket, and the first player to score a double century in ODI cricket. Tendulkar took up cricket at the age of eleven and made his Test debut for India against Pakistan at the age of sixteen. He is the only player to have scored one hundred international centuries, the first cricketer to score a double century in a One Day International, the highest run scorer of all time in Cricket, and the only player to complete more than 30,000 runs in international cricket.

Early Life and Domestic Career

Sachin Tendulkar was born on April 24, 1973 in Mumbai, India. His father, Ramesh Tendulkar, was a Marathi novelist and his mother, Rajni, worked in the insurance industry. Tendulkar’s older brother Ajit encouraged him to play cricket. Tendulkar attended Sharadashram Vidyamandir High School where he began his cricketing career.

Tendulkar was a natural right-handed batsman but bowled right-arm off breaks. He made his first-class debut for Bombay against Gujarat in 1988, scoring 100 not out in his first innings. He was the youngest Indian to score a century on his first-class debut. Tendulkar quickly progressed through the ranks and made his Test debut for India against Pakistan in Karachi in 1989 at the age of 16. He scored just 15 runs in his debut innings and was dismissed by Waqar Younis.

International Career

Tendulkar’s international career spanned over two decades, during which he established himself as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the sport. He made his One Day International (ODI) debut for India against Pakistan in December 1989 and scored a quickfire unbeaten 15 runs. Tendulkar quickly became a mainstay in the Indian cricket team and was known for his aggressive style of play and his ability to score runs consistently.

Tendulkar scored his first international century in August 1990, scoring 119 runs against England in a Test match at Old Trafford. He went on to score 100 international centuries, including 51 Test centuries and 49 ODI centuries. Tendulkar is the first player to score a double century in a One Day International, achieving the feat against South Africa in 2010.

Tendulkar was a key member of the Indian cricket team that won the Cricket World Cup in 2011. He was the leading run-scorer in the tournament, scoring 482 runs in nine matches at an average of 53.55. Tendulkar retired from cricket in 2013 after playing a record 200 Test matches for India.

Records and Accomplishments

Tendulkar is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket. He holds a number of records, including:

Most runs scored in international cricket (34,357)
Most centuries scored in international cricket (100)
Most Test centuries scored (51)
Most ODI centuries scored (49)
Most Man of the Match awards in ODIs (62)
Most Man of the Series awards in ODIs (15)

Tendulkar was also the first player to score a double century in a One Day International and the first player to score 50 international centuries. He was named one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” by Time magazine in 2010 and was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2012 for his services to cricket.

Tendulkar was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 2014. He is the first cricketer to be awarded the Bharat Ratna and the second sportsperson after legendary Indian hockey player Dhyan Chand.

Tendulkar was also the recipient of the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2010. He was also named one of the “Top 5 Cricketers of the Year” by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2010, 2011, and 2013.

Tendulkar was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2019.

Personal Life

Tendulkar married Anjali, a paediatrician, in 1995. The couple has two children, Sara and Arjun. Tendulkar is a trained classical singer and also enjoys playing table tennis and golf in his free time.

Tendulkar is known for his philanthropic work and has been involved in a number of charitable initiatives through his charitable foundation, the Tendulkar Manchester United Support Trust. He has also supported a number of causes, including education and healthcare, through his foundation.

In conclusion, Sachin Tendulkar is a cricketing legend and one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the sport. His records and accomplishments speak for themselves and he will always be remembered as one of the all-time greats of the game.