What a remarkable person - cricketing talent - and sports 'Icon'. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is the "God of Cricket" - in India at least, but many will agree that is the case in other parts of the world as well.
When Tendulkar made his test debut during November of 1989, he was only 16 years and 205 days old. He is the third youngest player to make his test debut ever. Sachin played his first test match against Pakistan and was bowled out for 15 by another test debutant, the great Waqar Younis.
His maiden test century came almost a year later, on August 14, 1990, when India played England at Old Trafford. It was his ninth test match. He made an unbeaten 119 in the second innings of that game, which was a significant contribution, as it helped India to a well-deserved draw.
Surprisingly, his mother has never watched a single game of cricket that her son played in, but she was present during his 200th Test match, which is to be his last for his country, India. He is currently playing against the West Indies in his home town of Mumbai, where he was caught in the slips by Sammy for 74, which may be his final test innings ever!
This probably sums up the little Indian cricketing legend the best:
"I have played with him long enough to understand his approach but I am amazed at the man’s zeal. He wants to be perfect always. His humility is amazing. I have seen Sachin carry drinks for the junior most, much to the embarrassment of the youngster. His discipline is infectious. For Mumbai nets, he comes in the Mumbai training gear. He would never don an India cap or T-shirt for a Mumbai match. He will also not allow anyone to carry his cricket coffin.” - Pravin Amre (Sachin Tendulkar’s coach at Mumbai)
Sachin's Career Statistics (courtesy of http://www.cricket365.com)
| Full Name: | Sachin Tendulkar |
| Date of birth: | 24 / 04 / 1973 |
| Country: | India |
| Role: | Batsman |
| Batting style: | Right-hand |
| Bowling style: | Off break |
Career summary
- Test debut v Pakistan at Karachi - November 1989.
- ODI debut v Pakistan at Gujranwala - December 1989.
- Showed bravery during his debut match when he played on after he was struck on the head. He was only 16 at the time, India's youngest ever Test player.
- The "Little Master" made his ODI debut later on the same tour at Gujranwala in December, but was dismissed without scoring a run.
- In his debut first-class match for Bombay in the 1988/89 season, he scored 100 not-out aged 15 years 232 days, he was by far the youngest player to score a century on debut.
- He is the only player to score a century while making his debut's in the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Irani Trophy.
- Currently holds the record for the most number of runs in ODIs and Tests, and the most number of centuries scored, both in one-day Internationals and in Test cricket.
- He also holds the record for most-capped Indian in Test cricket while he was the first player to reach 400 ODI caps.
- Also holds the record for scoring 1,000 ODI runs in a calendar year, having done it six times, in 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2003.
- In 1998 he made 1,894 ODI runs, a record for ODI runs by any batsman in a calendar year.
- His highest Test score with the bat is 248 not out, which he made against Bangladesh in 2004 in Dhaka.
- Was the top run scorer in the 2003 World Cup with 673 runs & passed 50 in seven of his 11 innings.
- In February 2010 he became the first batsman to hit a double-century in ODI cricket as he scored an unbeaten 200 against South Africa in Gwailor.
- Became the first man to 50 Test match centuries in December 2010 achieving the feat against South Africa in Centurion.
- 2011 saw him finally win the World Cup as India beat Sri Lanka in final.
- Scored his 100th international century against Bangladesh in Mirpur in March 2012 - a record unlikely to ever be matched.
- In December 2012 after 463 matches, 18,426 runs and 49 hundreds, Tendulkar retired from ODI's.
Test Matches
| Career Span: | 1989-2013 |
| Matches: | 200 |
| Innings: | 329 |
| Not Outs: | 34 |
| Runs: | 15885 |
| Highest Score: | 248 |
| Average: | 53.85 |
| 50s: | 67 |
| 100s: | 51 |
| Ducks: | 14 |
| Pairs: | 0 |
| Caught Out: | 168 |
| Stumped Out: | 1 |
| Innings Bowled: | 144 |
| Overs: | 704.4 |
| Maidens: | 84 |
| Runs Conceded: | 2484 |
| Wickets: | 46 |
| 5 Wicket Innings: | 0 |
| 10 Wicket Innings: | 0 |
| Average: | 54.0 |
| Economy Rate: | 3.53 |
| Best bowling in Innings: | 3/10 |
ODI Matches
| Career Span: | 1989-2012 |
| Matches: | 456 |
| Innings: | 445 |
| Not Outs: | 40 |
| Runs: | 18011 |
| Highest Score: | 200 |
| Average: | 44.58 |
| 50s: | 95 |
| 100s: | 47 |
| Ducks: | 20 |
| Pairs: | 0 |
| Caught Out: | 252 |
| Stumped Out: | 11 |
| Innings Bowled: | 265 |
| Overs: | 1338.0 |
| Maidens: | 25 |
| Runs Conceded: | 6824 |
| Wickets: | 154 |
| 5 Wicket Innings: | 2 |
| 10 Wicket Innings: | 0 |
| Average: | 44.31 |
| Economy Rate: | 5.1 |
| Best bowling in Innings: | 5/32 |
