Sachin Tendulkar – First Indian To Score 30,000 Runs In All Forms Of Domestic And International Cricket

Sachin Tendulkar, also known as the “Little Master” and “Master Blaster”, has scored the highest runs in the world in International cricket, and is rightly known as the “God of Cricket”. He is considered the greatest batsman of all time in cricket.

The former captain of the Indian cricket team made his Test debut in cricket when he was just sixteen years old. He is the only cricketer in the world to have scored one hundred international centuries. He holds the record for making the highest number of runs in Tests as well as One Day International.

He is the first and only batsman to have scored more than 30,000 runs in international cricket. He was also the first batsman to score a double century in ODI. In his cricket career, Tendulkar had played 664 international cricket matches and scored 34,357 runs.

Sachin Tendulkar has received numerous awards during his career such as the Arjuna Award in 1994, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 1997, India’s top civilian honors like, Padma Shri (1998) and Padma Vibhushan (2008). But what sets him apart is that he is the recipient of the highest civilian honor in India, the Bharat Ratna, which he received in 2013.

He is the only sportsperson and the youngest person to receive this award. In 2012, he was nominated as a member to the Rajya Sabha – the upper house of Indian Parliament of India. On 16 November 2013, after playing his 200^th Test Match at Mumbai against the West Indies, he retired from Cricket.

Here is his biography in brief and some of his scintillating achievements in cricket.

Quick Facts

Full Name: Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar

Born On: 24 April 1973

Birthplace: Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra

Nicknames: God of Cricket, Little Master, Master Blaster

Height: 5 ft 5 in (165 cm)

Education: Sharadashram Vidyamandir School

Parents: Ramesh Tendulkar (Father), Rajni (Mother)

Spouse: Anjali Tendulkar nee Mehta

Children: Arjun (son), Sara (daughter)

Played As: Batsman

Batting Style: Right-handed

Bowling Style: Right-arm Medium, Leg Break, Off Break

Major Teams Played For: India National Team (1989–2013),  Mumbai (1988–2013), Mumbai Indians (2008–2013), Yorkshire County (1992)

Test Debut: 15 November 1989 vs Pakistan

Last Test: 14 November 2013 vs West Indies

ODI Debut: 18 December 1989 vs Pakistan

Last ODI: 18 March 2012 vs Pakistan

Only T20I Played: 1 December 2006 vs South Africa

Sachin Tendulkar’s Cricket Career Statistics

Sachin Tendulkar’s Test Cricket Record

Childhood and Early Years

Sachin Tendulkar was born in Bombay (now Mumbai) on 24 April 1973. Ramesh Tendulkar, his father, was a well-known writer who wrote novels and poems in Marathi. His mother Rajni was a working lady who worked in insurance sector. Sachin’s family were Maharashtrian Rajapur Saraswat Brahmin.

Sachin was named after the famous music director, Sachin Dev Burman. His father had two sons Nitin and Ajit, and a daughter Savita from his first wife who died. They were elder to Sachin. Tendulkar’s family lived in the Sahitya Sahawas Cooperative Housing Society in Bandra.

Tendulkar had his schooling at the Indian Education Society’s New English School in Bandra (East). Since his childhood, Sachin was interested in outdoor activities and sports. He was initially interested in Tennis. His brother Ajit introduced him to Cricket and in 1984 he met Ramakant Achrekar, who was a famous cricket coach. His coach made him practice at Shivaji Park, Dadar.

Achrekar liked Tendulkar’s talent and dedication and advised him to join a school at Dadar, Sharadashram Vidyamandir (English) High School. This school had produced many Test cricketers and was close to Shivaji Park where he practiced in morning and evening. During this period, Sachin also stayed with his uncle and aunts who lived near Shivaji Park.

During practice, coach Achrekar would put a coin over the stump, and the bowler who would bowl out Sachin would get the coin. In case Sachin remained unbeaten, then the coin was his. This motivated Sachin and he earned many coins.

School Cricket

At school, Sachin played for the school team and his team won the Matunga Gujarati Seva Mandal (MGSM) Shield. During that period, he also played club cricket. He was in John Bright Cricket Club and played in Bombay’s premier club cricket tournament, the Kanga League.

Later he also played for the Cricket Club of India. When he was 14 in 1987, Sachin attended the MRF Pace Foundation in Madras, now Chennai, to get training as a fast bowler. Dennis Lillee, the Australian fast bowler, who was the coach advised him to take up batting.

In 1987 Sachin played at an exhibition game at Brabourne Stadium, Bombay, to mark the golden jubilee of Cricket Club of India. One of the great Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar also encouraged him when he missed getting the Bombay Cricket Association’s “Best junior cricket award”, by gifting him his pads. Later on, Tendulkar overtook Gavaskar’s world record of 34 Test centuries.

In 1988, Tendulkar scored a century in every innings he played. That year, in the Lord Harris Shield inter-school game he made an unbroken 664-run partnership with Vinod Kambli, who later also became a Test cricketer. In this partnership, Tendulkar scored 326 not out.

Early Domestic Career

In 1987, Tendulkar got selected to play the Ranji Trophy representing the Bombay team. But he did not make it to the playing Eleven and played as a substitute. One year later, when he was 15 years old on 11 December 1988, Tendulkar made his debut for Bombay against Gujarat. He scored a century in that match while remaining not out and became the youngest player to score a century on debut in first-class cricket.

In the 1988–89 Ranji Trophy season Tendulkar was Bombay’s highest run-scorer, scoring 583 runs at an average of 67.77. Tendulkar then also scored centuries in his first appearance in the Deodhar and Duleep Trophies. In the 1989–90 season, he made an unbeaten century against Delhi in the Irani Trophy match, while playing for the Rest of India. During 1988 and 1989, Sachin playing for the Star Cricket Club, toured England twice.

In the 1990–91 Ranji Trophy final, Tendulkar made 96 from 75 deliveries for Bombay while chasing 355 runs in 70 overs on the final day. However, Bombay lost to Haryana by just 2 runs.

Yorkshire County Cricket

In 1992, Tendulkar represented Yorkshire county, when he was 19 years of age. He became the first overseas-born player to represent Yorkshire. During this stint, Tendulkar played 16 first-class matches scoring 1070 runs at an average of 46.52.

More Success at Home

In 1998, Tendulkar made 204 not out – his first double century for Mumbai at the Brabourne Stadium against the visiting Australian team. He became the only cricketer to score a century on debut in all three domestic first-class tournaments – Ranji, Irani, and Duleep Trophies. In the 2000 Ranji Trophy, he made another double century – 233 not out, against Tamil Nadu.

Early International Career

In November 1989, when he was 16 years and 205 days old, Tendulkar made his Test cricket debut. He became the youngest Indian cricketer to debut in Test cricket. This was against Pakistan in Karachi Test. He could only make 15 runs, and was bowled by Waqar Younis, also a debutant. Despite his small score, Tendulkar was applauded for his valiant handling of the Pakistani fast bowlers.

In the final and fourth test of the series at Sialkot, he was injured on the face by a bouncer from Waqar Younis, but he continued to bat. Later he also became the youngest Indian player to debut in ODIs. At Peshawar, in the 20-over match, he made 53 runs in 3 overs, and in a single over of Abdul Qadir, he made 28 runs. In this Test series, he scored 215 runs at an average of 35.83 runs. Next, there was the New Zealand Test series wherein the Second Test he scored 88. He scored 117 runs at an average of 29.25 runs.

In 1990, in the summer tour to England, in the second test at Old Trafford in Manchester, he scored 119 not out. With this, he became the second youngest cricketer to score a Test century. He saved India from certain defeat and the match ended in a draw.

During the 1991–92 tour of Australia, Tendulkar scored 138 not out in the third Test at Sydney. With this, he became the world’s youngest batsman to score a century in Australia. In the final test at Perth, he made 114 runs.

Best Years in Cricket

In 1994 at Auckland against New Zealand, Tendulkar made 82 runs in 49 balls. On 9 September 1994 against Australia in Colombo, he made his first ODI century.

In the 1996 World Cup, he was the leading run scorer and made two centuries. In 1996 against Pakistan at Sharjah, Tendulkar scored a century in his record partnership with Sidhu in the ODI.

In 1998 when Australia visited India Tendulkar scored three consecutive centuries. In the Triangular cricket tournament at Sharjah in 1998, Tendulkar scored two consecutive centuries which were called the Desert Storm innings. In the ICC 1998 quarterfinal at Dhaka, Tendulkar scored 141 runs in 128 balls and also got four wickets against Australia.

In the inaugural Asian Test Championship in 1999, Tendulkar scored his 19th Test century against Sri Lanka. In 1999, while playing for the Two-Test series against Pakistan, Tendulkar made 136 runs in the First Test at Chepauk. During the 1999 World Cup, Sachin’s father Ramesh Tendulkar died and Sachin had to return to India, but he flew back and in the next match scored 140 against Kenya, dedicating it to his father’s memory.

Career as a Captain

Tendulkar was also made the Captain of the Indian cricket team during two tenures. However, his records as a Captain were not very encouraging. He lost the tests for the tour of Australia by 3-0. In 2000, against South Africa in the home series, India lost by 0-2.

Sachin Tendulkar’s Record as the Test and ODI Captain

Bad Phase: Losing Form and Injuries

In the 2001-2002 test series against Australia, Sachin Tendulkar took three important wickets in the Kolkata Test and winning the match for India. During the ODI matches, he claimed his 100th wicket in ODIs.

In the 2002 series with West Indies, In the second test at Port of Spain, Sachin made his 29^th test century by scoring 117 in his 93^rd Test. With this, he claimed the record held by Sir Donald Bradman. Michael Schumacher gifted him a Ferrari for this achievement.

In the 2002 Test series against England, Sachin’s performance was bad. He was out in the First test scoring two ducks in the First Test, and then 8 and 0 in the Second Test. However in the Third Test, which was his 99^th test, he scored his 30^th Test century, He overtook Bradman’s record of maximum centuries in Test matches.

In the 2003 Cricket World Cup Tendulkar got the Man of the Tournament award with 673 runs in 11 matches, however, Australia retained the trophy. In the tri-series with Australia and New Zealand, he scored two centuries.

During the 2003-2004 Tour of Australia, although it ended in a draw, Tendulkar made 241 not out in the last Test at Sydney. 2003 was his worst year in Test cricket, with an average of 17.25 and just one half-century.

In the 2004 Test series against Pakistan, at Multan, Tendulkar made 194 not out when captain Dravid declared, thus depriving him of his fourth double century. He was out of tests later due to a tennis-elbow injury. He could play only the last two test against visiting Australians who won the series 2-1.

In 2005, against the visiting Sri Lankan team at Feroz Shah Kotla, Tendulkar made his 35^th Test century. Thereafter he had a lean patch of 17 innings without a century. On 19 March 2006, after being dismissed for only one run 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. He later suffered from a shoulder problem.

On 14 September 2006, Tendulkar made his 40th ODI century on scoring 141 in the DLF Cup in Malaysia against West Indies, though India lost the match on Duckworth Lewis method.

In May 2007, against Bangladesh, he made 101. This century was made after 17 innings. Before 2007 Cricket World Cup there was controversy involving the coach Greg Chappell who later resigned. The Indian team performed poorly in the world cup and Tendulkar scored 9 against Sri Lanka and 7 against Bangladesh.

Return to Form and Consistency

Tendulkar returned to his form in the Test series against Bangladesh and became the Man of the Series. In the Future Cup against South Africa, he made 99 and 93 while becoming the First batsman to score 15,000 runs in ODIs.

On 28 July 2007, in the Nottingham Test against England, Tendulkar became the third cricketer to make 11,000 Test runs.

During the 2007–08 tour of Australia, for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he scored the highest number of runs, 493 runs in four Tests. In the Sydney Test, Tendulkar made 154 not out although India lost the Test. In the third Test at Perth, Sachin scored 71 and defeated Australia after 16 consecutive wins. The fourth Test at Adelaide was a draw and Tendulkar made 153 runs in the first innings.

In the One-Day International Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series with India, Sri Lanka and Australia as participants, Tendulkar became the first batsman to make 16,000 runs in ODIs.

In the three-Test home series against South Africa in 2008, Tendulkar was out in the First Test with a duck, and also suffered groin injury.

He missed the second and third Tests, and the tri-series involving Bangladesh.

He also missed the 2008 Asia Cup, and the few matches of the IPL which was started that year.

Sri Lanka Series

In July 2008, India lost the Sri Lanka Series and Tendulkar scored only 95 runs in the six innings, scoring an average of only 15.83 which was his worst performance. In the ODI series, he did not participate due to injury.

Return to Form and Breaking Brian Lara’s Record

In the Australia tour of India, he made 88 in the Second Test and broke Brian Lara’s record of most runs and became the first batsman to cross 12,000 runs in test cricket.

ODI and Test Series against England

In 2008, Tendulkar missed the first three matches in the seven-match ODI series with England, however, he played in the fourth and fifth match. India had won all the five matches played but the series was concluded prematurely due to the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack.

In the two-match Test series with England, Tendulkar scored 103 in the first test and India won the test. However, the second test ended in a draw and Tendulkar made a poor score, but with 1-0, India won the series.

2009–2010

In 2009, India visited Sri Lanka for five ODIs, but Tendulkar scored just 5, 6 and 7 in the first three matches, and did not play the last two matches.

In the New Zealand tour of three tests and 5 ODI’s, Tendulkar scored 160 not out in the first Test which was his 42^nd century. India won the test. He made 49 and 64 in the second test and which India lost and the third test ended in a draw due to rains. In the ODI, Tendulkar made 163 in the third match taking the score to 392. With 3 wins, India won the ODI series.

In 2009, Tendulkar took rest and did not participate in the ODI tour of West Indies. Later he played the Compaq Cup Tri Series between India, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. He scored 138 in the final, and India won. In the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa, Tendulkar played only one match against Pakistan scoring only 8 runs, and later India was eliminated.

In October 2009, Australia visited for a seven-match ODI series. In the fifth match, Tendulkar scored 175 out of 141 balls and made his 45th ODI century. With this Tendulkar became the first player to reach 17,000 ODI runs.

In the 2009-10 five-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, Tendulkar could not make any century, but India won the series 3-1 while the fifth match was abandoned. In the Tests, he scored 100 not out in the first test and 40 and 53 in the second and third test. India won the series 2-0.

In 2010, Sachin took rest in the ODI tri-series but played the test series with Bangladesh. He scored 105 not out and 143 in the first and second test making India win both the tests.

In the two-Test Series against South Africa, Tendulkar scored 100 and 106 in the First and second tests. With this, he had made his 47^th centuries in test cricket. In the ODI series, he made 200 not out which made him the world’s first batsman to score a double century in ODI cricket.

2011 Cricket World Cup and Later

The 2011 Cricket World Cup, was hosted by Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka. Tendulkar scored 482 runs which included two centuries and was the highest run-getter from India. India won the cup defeating Sri Lanka in the final.

On 8 November 2011, Tendulkar again created history when he became the first cricketer to score 15,000 runs. This was in the first test against the West Indies at New Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium.

On 16 March 2012, Tendulkar made his 100th international century at Mirpur against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup.

In the 2012 England’s visit to India, Tendulkar performed poorly in the first two tests. This made people ask for his retirement.

During 2012-13. Sachin decided to focus on the Ranji Trophy to improve his form. Due to his batting, Mumbai won the Ranji Trophy. In the Irani Trophy, he made 149 not out for Mumbai, which was his 81st century in first-class cricket. He equaled Sunil Gavaskar’s record for most first-class hundreds.

Announcing his Retirement

On 23 December 2012, Tendulkar announced his retirement from One Day Internationals due to his poor performance in the 2012 series against England.

On 26 May 2013, Tendulkar announced his retirement from the IPL after his team Mumbai Indians won the Indian Premier League 2013. He also announced his retirement from Twenty20 cricket and limited-overs cricket.

On 10 October 2013, Tendulkar announced his retirement from all cricket after the two-Test series against West Indies in November. He made 74 runs in his last Test innings against West Indies at Mumbai. Several organizations held events to mark his retirement from cricket.

In July 2014, Sachin played as captain of the MCC team in the Bicentenary Celebration match at Lord’s, and in December 2014, he was made the ambassador of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

His Achievements

It would take a book to write about Tendulkar’s achievements in cricket and the awards and recognition he has received. Here only a selected few are given.

Sachin Tendulkar is the world’s top batsman to have scored 15,921 runs in Tests, and 18,426 in One-Day Internationals, with 18,426 runs.

Tendulkar became the first batsman to score 15,000 runs in Test Cricket on 8 November 2011.

He is the world’s only player to score more than 30,000 runs in all formats of international cricket – Tests, ODIs and Twenty20.

He has made the highest number of centuries in both Tests (51) and ODIs (49); and also both combined, a total of 100.

He holds the world record for playing the highest number of Test matches (200) and ODI matches (463).

Tendulkar holds the record for the highest number of runs scored by a player in a calendar year (1894) and also the record for scoring more than 1000 runs in a calendar year (7 times).

Tendulkar has consistently done well in Cricket World Cups. He was the highest run scorer of the 1996 Cricket World Cup with a total of 523 runs and also of the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

Awards and Honours in India

• Arjuna Award (1994)

• Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (1998)

• Padma Shri (1999), India’s fourth highest civilian award
• Padma Vibhushan (2008), India’s second highest civilian award

• Made an Honorary Group Captain by the Indian Air Force (2010)

• Bharat Ratna (2014), India’s highest civilian award
• Postage stamps commemorating the Sachin Tendulkar 200th Test Match (2013)

International Honours

• Wisden Cricketer of the Year (1997)

• Ferrari 360 Modena from Michael Schumacher for equalling Don Bradman’s 29 test (2002)
• ICC Award-Sir Garfield Sobers trophy for cricketer of the year (2010)

• BCCI Cricketer of the Year award (2011)

• Honorary Life Membership of Sydney Cricket Ground
• Honorary Member of the Order of Australia, given by the Australian government ((2012)

• The Asian Awards Fellowship Award at the 7th Asian Awards (2017)

Some Lesser Known Facts About Sachin Tendulkar

• Sachin Tendulkar is ambidextrous – he bats, bowls and throws with his right hand, but writes with his left hand.

• He uses a heavier bat.

• Straight Drive is his favorite shot.

• Tendulkar can bowl medium pace, leg spin, and off spin, although he is not a regular bowler.

• Sir Donald Bradman considered his batting style similar to his.

• No other player in cricket history has been dismissed as many times while batting on the ’90s as Sachin has been – 27 times.

• Tendulkar’s wax statue has been installed in Madame Tussauds, London.

• He was a disciple of Sathya Sai Baba of Puttaparthi.

• Sachin celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi at home and in Mumbai temples.

• He first met his future wife Anjali when he was a teenager, in 1990. She being a doctor, is more educated than him.

• In 1995, he made a five-year advertising deal with WorldTel valued at Rs. 30 crores (US$4.2 million). In 2001, this was renewed at Rs. 80 crores (US$11 million). Next, in 2006 he signed a three-year contract with Saatchi and Saatchi for Rs. 180 crore (US$25 million) over three years.

• Tendulkar owns two restaurants in Mumbai; Tendulkar’s at Colaba, and Sachin’s at Mulund; and one in Bangalore.

• Tendulkar is also the co-owner of the Kochi ISL team in the Indian Super League Football which has been named Kerala Blasters.

• Tendulkar also owns the Premier Badminton League team Bengaluru Blasters.

• Tendulkar regularly features in the Forbes’ list of world’s highest-paid athletes with a net worth exceeding US$ 200 million.

• He is considered India’s richest cricket player.

• Sachin Tendulkar is the brand ambassador of several MNC and Indian brands, prominent among these being Pepsi, Adidas, Coca-Cola, Fiat, Canon, Toshiba, Colgate-Palmolive, Philips, VISA, Boost, MRF, Britannia, Airtel, etc.

• He has also promoted for National Egg Coordination Committee and AIDS Awareness Campaign.

• In 2014, Sachin Tendulkar’s autobiography, Playing It My Way, was released.

• The film, Sachin: A Billion Dreams, was based on his life in which he has himself played his character.

• Sachin has also appeared in two Hindi films; Kabhie Ajnabi The (1985) and Stumped (2003).

Famous Quotes by Sachin Tendulkar

“I am not God of cricket. I make mistakes, God doesn’t.”

“Winning the World Cup is the proudest moment of my life. … I couldn’t control my tears of joy.”

“I hate losing and cricket being my first love, once I enter the ground it’s a different zone altogether and that hunger for winning is always there.”

“The only thing that was on my mind was, ‘I want to play for India one day,’ and I was pretty sure and confident that one day I will.”

“I get 0.5 seconds to react to a ball, sometimes even less than that. I can’t be thinking of what XYZ has said about me. I need to surrender myself to my natural instincts. My subconscious mind knows exactly what to do. It is trained to react. At home, my family doesn’t discuss media coverage.”

“When there is time to think about cricket I think but when there is time to be with family, I try to do justice to that aspect of my life as well.”

“Don’t stop chasing your dreams, because dreams come true.”

“Whatever level you reach, getting better, never stops.”

“I fail sometimes, I succeed sometimes, so that’s fair enough. It’s a package deal. It comes with that package: Failures and success.”

“In any profession, there are always ups and downs.”

“When people throw stones at you, you turn them into milestones.”

*****

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