Sachin Tendulkar - Biography, Achievements and Interesting Facts

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is an Indian cricketer widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman in One Day Internationals and second only to Don Bradman in the all time greatest list in Test cricket. (ODIs). In 2002, The Wisden ranked him the second greatest Test batsman of all time, behind Bradman, and the second greatest one-day-international (ODI) batsman of all time, behind Viv Richards. Tendulkar was a part of the 2011 Cricket World Cup winning Indian team in the later part of his career, his first such win in six World Cup appearances for India. He was also the recipient of "Player of the Tournament" award of the 2003 Cricket World Cup held in South Africa.

Tendulkar won the 2010 Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for cricketer of the year at the ICC awards. He has been recommended for the receipt of the Bharat Ratna award, in fact it has been speculated that the criteria for the award of the Bharat Ratna was changed to allow him receive the award. He is also a member of Rajya Sabha of Parliament of India. Tendulkar passed 30,000 runs in international cricket on 20 November 2009. On 5 December 2012, Tendulkar became first batsman in history to cross the 34,000 run aggregate in all formats of the game put together. At 36 years and 306 days, he became the first ever player to score a double-century in the history of ODIs. Two years later he became the first player to score 100 international centuries. As of December 2012, Tendulkar has played 657 matches in international cricket.

Facts, Achievements and Brief Introduction of Sachin Tendulkar

• His mother Rajni worked in the insurance industry, and his father Ramesh Tendulkar, a Marathi novelist, named Tendulkar after his favourite music director, Sachin Dev Burman. Tendulkar’s elder brother Ajit encouraged him to play cricket. 
• Tendulkar has two other siblings: a brother Nitin, and sister Savita.
• Tendulkar is the first and the only player in Test Cricket history to score fifty centuries, and the first to score fifty centuries in all international cricket combined. On 17 October 2008, when he surpassed Brian Lara’s record for the most runs scored in Test cricket, he also became the first batsman to score 12,000, 13,000 and 14,000 runs in that form of the game, having also been the third batsman and first Indian to pass 11,000 runs in Test cricket. 
• He was also the first player to score 10,000 runs in one-day internationals, and also the first player to cross every subsequent 1000-run mark that has been crossed in ODI cricket history and 200 runs in a one-day international match.
• In the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, Tendulkar surpassed Australia’s Allan Border to become the player to cross the 50-run mark the most number of times in Test cricket history, and also the second ever player to score 11 Test centuries against Australia, tying with Sir Jack Hobbs of England more than 70 years previously. Tendulkar passed 30,000 runs in international cricket on 20 November 2009.
• Sachin was given a pair of pads by his cricket hero Sunil Gavaskar when he was a schoolboy – and he made his Test debut for India against Pakistan aged just 16-years old in 1989 wearing those very pads…..
• Like loads of other cricketers, Sachin is pretty superstitious – he’ll always put on his left pad before his right whenever he’s getting padded up.
• The entire cricket world is convinced of one thing : Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is the world’s best batsman. Not just for his extraordinary skill, not just for his ability to tear even the most formidable of bowling attacks to shreds; but also for a rare never-say-die spirit, an insatiable hunger for runs and victory, a desire to dominate the opponent ; commitment, dedication …
• Tendulkar was a person who would never show any disrespect to the national flag..He respects the national flag most and had even sought permission to use the tricolour on his helmet……
• My big sister gave it to me after returning from a trip to Kashmir, which is known for its high-quality willows. It wasn’t the best bat, but it was like a piece of gold to me. I used to imagine myself batting for India, hitting fours and sixes, the people cheering.
• 1999, was never a cricket fan, not at all. He was a writer and a poet: he taught Marathi, my mother tongue, at the local university. But he understood exactly how to get the best out of me. He always encouraged me and told my mother that he had full faith in me. It was probably reverse psychology, but as I got older I felt like I could not misuse that trust. He warned me against taking short cuts and told me to just keep playing, despite the ups and downs. My parents taught me that it is important to live every day of your life with grace and honour.When it came to choosing between cricket and going to university, he said: “You can play cricket, I know that is your first love, so go for it.”
• His father named him after his favourite music director Sachin Dev Burman (S.D. Burman).
• His is famously called as Master Blaster, Little Master, Tendya and God of Cricket
• Was a ball boy during the 1987 world cup semi-finals between India and England at Wankhende.
• Grew his hair and tied a band around it to copy his idol JohnMcEnroe while he was young, he was called McEnroe by his friends.
• Like most of people of his age, Amitabh Bachchan became his biggest hero after watching Deewar and Zanjeer, the angry young man.
• He loves listening to Kishore Kumar and rock group Dire Straits.
• Sachin Tendulkar wanted to become a fast bowler, but when he was rejected by Dennis Lillee's MRF Pace Foundation in 1987. Lillee told the young Tendulkar to focus on his batting. The other youngster turned away by Lillee along with Tendulkar was Sourav Ganguly.
• Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli set a world record partnership of 664 runs in the Harris Shield, an inter-school tournament in Mumbai. Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 326 runs and reportedly the mammoth stand literally drove the opposition to tears.
• Sachin Tendulkar at the age of 19 became the youngest Indian to play in county cricket.
• Sachin Tendulkar had to wait for 79 matches for his first ODI century and by that time he had scored seven Test hundreds.
• Sachin Tendulkar was the first batsman to be given out by the Third-umpire. In 1992, on the second day of the Durban Test, a Jonty Rhodes throw caught Tendulkar short of the crease. After watching TV replays he was adjudged out.
• Sachin Tendulkar made his Test debut in 1989 against Pakistan in Karachi. In the same match, Pakistani pacer Waqar Younis also played his first Test match ever.
• Sachin Tendulkar went to Sharadashram Vidyamandir School only after coach Ramakant Achrekar saw his batting potential. Achrekar was the cricket coach of Sharadashram Vidyamandir School. Before enrolling at Shardashram, Tendulkar went to New England School of Indian Education Society in East Bandra
• At the age of 10 he walked to the field at 6 am with a cricket bag bigger than him for the practice. At the age of 11 he moved with his paternal uncle to get trained in cricket by the most renowned coach Ramakanth Achrekar. ..
• The first brand which Sachin Tendulkar endorsed was the health drink 'Boost'. He was seen alongside Kapil Dev in many of their ad films, the start of which happened in 1990.
• English fast bowler Allan Mulally playing in his debut Test against India complained that Sachin Tendulkar was batting with a bat broader than the normal willow. That's how much Tendulkar had psyched the bowler with his brilliant batting.
• Sachin Tendulkar started off with centuries in his debut matches in the Ranji, Duleep and Irani Trophy. No other domestic cricketer has been able to break this record till now.
• Sachin Tendulkar was done in by a sharp bouncer from Zimbabwe's Henry Olonga in a league match at Sharjah in 1998. In the final match against the same opposition, Tendulkar had his revenge as he smashed the bowler all around the ground and belted an unbeaten 118 runs.
• Sachin Tendulkar was gifted a Ferrari 360 Modena by F1 champion Michael Schumacher in 2002. Ferrari presented the car to Sachin in honour of him equalling Don Bradman's record of 29 Test centuries.
• Most number of the man of the matches in the world cup
• Most number of runs 1996 world cup 523 runs in the 1996 Cricket World Cup at an average of 87.16
• Most number of runs in the 2003 world cup 673 runs in 2003 Cricket World Cup, highest by any player in a single Cricket World Cup. He was Player of the World Cup Tournament in the 2003 Cricket World Cup.
• Tendulkar has been granted the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award and Padma Shri by Indian government. He is the only Indian cricketer to get all of them.
• Tendulkar has scored over 1000 ODI runs against all major cricketing nations.
• Sachin was the fastest to reach 10,000 runs taking 259 innings and has the highest batting average among batsmen with over 10,000 ODI runs
• Most number of Stadium Appearances: 90 different Grounds.
• Symbolized by Sir Bradman naming him in his dream team of all time. The team in which Tendulkar is the only Indian player.
• Tendulkar has been honoured with the Padma Vibhushan award, India's second highest civilian award, and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, India's highest sporting honour. 
• He was also the first sportsperson and the first one without aviation background to be awarded the honorary rank of Group Captain by the Indian Air Force. 
• Tendulkar has received honorary doctorates from University of Mysore and Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences.
• In 2012, he was nominated to Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India. 
• Sachin Tendulkar was named as an Honorary Member of the Order of Australia in 2012. 
• On 23 December 2012, Tendulkar announced his retirement from ODIs. Tendulkar has already stated that he will not be playing T20 Internationals

Super Quotes of Sachin Tendulkar

• At least with me, the match starts much, much earlier than the actual match.
• Every individual has his own style, his own way of presenting himself on and off the field.
• I always had a dream to play for India but I never let it put pressure on me.
• I believe every era has its significance and the same holds true for players and coaches.
• I feel when somebody has been playing cricket for a long time, he creates a separate identity for himself.
• 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.
• I have never believed in comparisons, whether they are about different eras, players or coaches.
• I have never thought where I will go, or forced any targets on myself.
• I just want to continue the way I am going.
• I want to give my six hours of serious cricket on the ground and then take whatever the result.
• I never played with a runner in my entire life, even in schools, because only I know where the ball is going and how hard, when I hit the ball, something my runner will never know about.

LEGENDS' QUOTES ON SACHIN TENDULKAR

• Mark Waugh - When you play against Tendulkar, you almost want to see him get a few runs just to see him bat.
• Shane Warne - Sachin Tendulkar is, in my time, the best player without doubt - daylight second, Brian Lara third.
• Viv Richards - He is 99.5% Perfect.. I'll pay to watch him play. I think he is marvellous. I think he will fit   in whatever category of Cricket that has been played or will be played,   from the first ball that has ever been bowled to the last ball that's   going to be. He can play in any era and at any level.
• Sir Don Bradman - I saw him playing on television and was struck   by his technique, so I asked my wife to come look at him. Now I never   saw myself play, but I feel that this player is playing much the same as   I used to play, and she looked at him on Television and said yes, there   is a similarity between the two...hi compactness, technique, stroke   production... it all seemed to gel! in reference to Sachin Tendulkar.
• Barry Richards - Consensus is that Sir Donald Bradman was the   best batsman ever to play Cricket. Sir Don did not play One-Day Cricket   but if he did, he could easily be Sachin Tendulkar.
• Allan Donald - In my several years of international cricket,   Tendulkar remains the best batsman I have ever bowled to. It's been a   pleasure to bowl at the master batsman even though one hasn't always   emerged with credit from the engagements.
• Virendra Sehwag - Both of us have come a long away and it is a great honour that   Tendulkar thinks I come close to resembling him as a batsman. It is a   great honour, like a dream come true. If I die tomorrow I'll be the   happiest man because I played this game because of Tendulkar, and   Tendulkar himself saying that I resemble him - there is no bigger   compliment than that.
• Mathew Hayden - I have seen GOD , he bats at no.4 for india in Tests.
• Mark Taylor - We did not lose to a team called india...we lost to a man called Sachin.
• Brain Lara - Sachin is a genius , i am a mere mortal!
• Martin Crowe - The shot played on this ball is only possible for the GOD of cricket.
• Steve Waugh - There is no shame losing to such a great player(sachin).
• Shane Warne - I would go to bed having nightmares of sachin dancing down the ground and hitting me for sixes.
• Dennis Lillie - If I had to bowl to Sachin I would bowl with a halmet on. He hits the ball so hard.
• Wasim Akram - Today, he showed the world why he is considered   the best batsman around. Some of the shots he played were simply   amazing. Earlier, opposing teams used to feel that Sachin's dismissal   meant they could win the game. Today, I feel that the Indian players,   too, feel this way.
• Brett Lee - You might pitch a ball on the off stump and   think you have bowled a good ball and he walks across and hits it for   two behind midwicket. His bat looks so heavy but he just waves it around   like it's a toothpick.
• Geoffrey Boycott - Technically, you can't fault Sachin. Seam or spin, fast or slow nothing is a problem.
• Eddie Barlow - He is Sachin Tendulkar. I hope he stays Sachin   Tendulkar. We need a new player, a player in his own way. He has a   technique which is the hallmark of a great player. Everything indicates   that he will be a great player and I am sure he will prove me right.
• Greg Chappell - He is a perfectly balanced batsman and knows   perfectly well when to attack and when to play defensive cricket. He has   developed the ability to treat bowlers all over the world with contempt   and can destroy any attack with utmost ease.
• Abdul Qadir - I Was fielding in the covers Tendulkar came out   to bat in his debut Test at Karachi. I still remember Waqar Younis was   at his peak form at that time. Tendulkar tried to drive Waqar through   the covers off his very first ball in Test cricket but was beaten all   ends up. But I walked to captain Imran Khan and told him 'this kid looks   very good' and Imran agree with me.
•  Sir Garfield Sobers - I have watched a lot of Tendulkar and we have spoken to each other a lot. He has it in him to be among the very best.
• Ian Healy - Tendulkar is the most comouncy pitch with   Hughes, McDermott and Whitney gunning for him he only had 60-odd when No   11 came in. I've seen him against Warne too.
• Hashim Amla - Nothing bad can happen to us if we're on a   plane in India with Sachin Tendulkar on it. Hashim Amla, the South   African batsman, reassures himself as he boards a flight.
• Desmond Haynes - In terms of technique and compactness, Tendulkar is the best: Desmond Haynes.
• Mark Taylor - He's a phenomenon. We have to be switched on when he plays allow him no boundries, for then he doesn't stop.
• ment. Why I've always liked him is that batsmen tend to be negative at   times and I think batting is not about not getting out - it is to play   positively. I think you got to take it to the bowlers and Sachin is one   such player. When you do so, you change the game, you change bowlers   because they suddenly start bowling badly because they are under   pressure.
• Mark Taylor - We did not lose to a team called India...we   lost to a man called Sachin - Mark Taylor, during the test match in   Chennai (1997)
• Dravid - Playing in the same team as Sachin is a huge   honour. His balance of mind, shrewd judgement, modesty and, above all,   his technical brilliance make him my all-time hero... You can't get a   more complete cricketer than Sachin. He has everything that a cricketer needs to have.