Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar

Achievements

• Leading Test scorer (15,921 runs) and ODI scorer (18,426 runs)
• Holds a record of scoring the highest number of centuries in Tests (51) as well as in ODIs (49) with a record total of 100 centuries
• Played a total of 200 Test and 463 ODI matches in his cricketing career
• Has the most number of Test wins (72) as well as ODI wins (262)
• Has scored 1000 runs in ODIs for seven times in a calendar year
• Has been entitled as "Man of the Match"  62 times in Tests and "Man of the Series" 15 times in ODIs
• Received sporting honour "Arjuna Award" in 1994 by the Government of India
• Received "Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award" by the Government of India and entitled as "Wisden Cricketer of the Year" in 1997
• "Padma Shri" by the Government of India in 1999
• Maharashtra State's highest civilian award- "Maharashtra Bhushan Award" in 2001
• Designated as "Player of the Tournament" in Cricket World Cup 2003
• Thrice elected as a member of ICC World ODI XI team: in 2004, 2007 and 2010
• Thrice chosen as a member of ICC World Test XI team: in 2009, 2010 and 2011
• India's second-highest civilian award "Padma Bhushan" in 2008
• Received "People’s Choice Award" and "Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy" in 2010
• Honoured as BCCI's "Cricketer of the Year Award" as well as "Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year" in 2011
• Appointed as the honorary "Member of the Order of Australia" in 2012
• Bestowed with India's highest civilian award "Bharat Ratna" in 2014
• Became the 6th Indian to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2019 alongside Allan Donald and Cathryn Fitzpatrick

I am not thinking too far ahead, just want to take it one thing at a time.

Sachin Tendulkar was born on 24th April to a Maratha novelist. The boy with innate potential was named after a prolific music director Sachin Dev Burman. Sachin was introduced to the game under the proper tutelage of famous coach Ramakant Achrekar who recognized his potential and trained him well to reign the world of cricket. One of the interesting techniques used by Achrekar in Sachin’s training schedules was whenever he got tired while practising, he used to place a one rupee coin at the middle stump and challenged him if he could bat without being dismissed, he would give that coin to him. (Sachin has earned 13 coins as a reward which he considers as one of his most prized possessions.)

Soon the boy started airing a lot in local cricketing circles. In 1987, he got an opportunity to train as a fast bowler but after observing his dominance with the bat, he was suggested to focus only on batting. One of the prominent cricketers of that time Sunil Gavaskar, handed his ultra-light Pads to Sachin, boosting him up to pursue hard for his dreams. After 20 years of this incident, Sachin surpassed Gavaskar’s record of 34 Test Centuries. 

Sachin made a dynamic debut in Test cricket against Pakistan in 1989 at the age of 16, as he fearlessly batted against the skilled bowlers of his time. He was so much dwelled and dedicated in his play that he didn’t even quit batting in spite of being bowled agonizingly hard by Waqar Younis and went on to score a number of runs for the team.

The following year, Sachin made his first Test century at Old Trafford and consistently proved his unmatched batting skills, being the first Indian batsman to score 50 centuries. He emerged as the highest run scorer of the 1996 and 2003 Cricket World Cup, securing 523 and 673 runs respectively. He has created an unbeatable record of scoring 30,000 runs in international cricket and reigned the pitch for almost two decades, giving stupendous performances, jaw-dropping sixes and a series of records, most of which he still holds and are hard to surpass. 

In 2002, Sachin equalled Sir Donald Bradman’s record of scoring 29 centuries for which he was honoured by Automotive Company "Ferrari" and has been gifted Ferrari 360 Modena from prolific F-1 racer Michael Schumacher. Sachin waited for 24 years to get his hands on the World Cup Trophy which he finally did in the year 2011, after which he retired from the ODI format. His international century record has been comparable to Sir Donald Bradman’s unbeatable batting average of 99.94. Without a shadow of a doubt; we can say that Sachin has raised the standard of batting to new heights, proving his potential all around the World. In 2013, Sachin finally took retirement from all formats of cricket with a contribution of total 34,357 runs, performing in 664 international matches. The same year, the Indian Postal Service released his stamp as a tribute to the legendary player.

The Indian Government bestowed Sachin with the highest civilian award "Bharat Ratna" for his astounding performance on the pitch. Sachin’s batting skills are appreciated worldwide. Throughout his professional journey, he proved himself as one of the best guides, greatest batsmen, and a brilliant performer who achieved numerous victories for the nation. He showed that one can become what one truly believes in, through constant persuasion. His belief in self, made him capable of facing hardcore players worldwide. Besides this, Sachin never fails to fulfil his responsibilities towards personal life as an Ideal son, a loving husband and a caring father. His story is now a legend for cricket fanatics as well as for the burgeoning players who want to reach great heights. Whenever the cricket history will be recalled, his name will be recognised as one of the leading batsmen of the sport. 

I have never tried to compare myself to anyone else.