Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar turns 48: Presenting his major records
Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar is arguably the greatest batsman to have played the sport. Hailed as the "God of Cricket", Tendulkar redefined the art of batting in the 1990s with his immaculate stroke-play. In an illustrious career that spanned for over two decades, the veteran batsman went on to break several records. As Tendulkar celebrates his 48th birthday, we present the same.
Tendulkar made his international debut in the 1989 Karachi Test against Pakistan. In the next 24 years, the Little Master attained more feats than one can imagine. He scored 15,921 runs from 200 Tests at a remarkable average of 53.78. The tally also includes a record 51 tons. Tendulkar also smashed 18,426 runs in 463 ODIs, and slammed 49 hundreds in the format.
Till date, Tendulkar remains the leading run-scorer in both Tests and ODIs by a huge margin. He is the only batsman to have scored in excess of 30,000 runs across formats (34,357 runs in 664 matches). In fact, Tendulkar is the only batsman with 100 tons in international cricket. He has 29 more centuries than the second-placed Ricky Ponting (71) on the tally.
Tendulkar holds the record for smashing the most international hundreds in a calendar year (12 in 1998). He smashed 2,541 runs in that year at 68.67. The former Indian batsman also owns most international centuries against a single opposition (20 against Australia).
During his career, Tendulkar accomplished many esoteric milestones. One such milestone took the cricket fraternity by storm in 2010. Tendulkar became the first-ever male cricketer to register a double-hundred in ODIs (vs SA). "The first man on the planet to reach 200, and it's the Superman from India," said Ravi Shastri in the commentary box. Indeed! Tendulkar did something that was unthinkable till then.
Tendulkar owns most runs in the 50-over World Cup. Having made his first WC appearance in 1992, he hammered 2,278 runs at an incredible average of 56.95. He is the only batsman to cross the 2,000-run mark in the mega ICC tournament. The tally includes a record six tons and 15 fifties. Tendulkar finally lived his dream of winning the World Cup in 2011.
Tendulkar has the distinction of registering a ton and four-for in the same ODI (141, 4/38 vs AUS). He has been adjudged Player of the Series 20 times across formats (most). He has played second-most international innings (136) without recording a duck. Tendulkar was the Orange Cap holder in the 2010 Indian Premier League (618) and won the title with Mumbai Indians in 2013.
Tendulkar retired from international cricket in 2013. However, he still continues to exhibit his class at times in charity games. "My life, between 22 yards for 24 years, it's hard to believe that wonderful journey has come to an end," an emotional Tendulkar had said in his retirement speech. Watching him bat flawlessly even now, one can only say that it's a never-ending "journey".
