Sachin Tendulkar

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"Tendulkar" redirects here. For the Marathi writer, see Vijay Tendulkar. For the actress,
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Masters
Sachin Tendulkar

Personal information
Full name Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar
24 April 1973 (age 36)
Born
Mumbai, India
Little Master, Tendlya,[1] Master Blaster,[2] The
Nickname Master,[3][4] The Bombay Bomber[5], The Little
Champion[6]
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Batting style Right-handed
Bowling style Right-arm leg spin / Right-arm off spin
Role Batsman
International information
National side India
Test debut 15 November 1989 v Pakistan
(cap 187)
Last Test 3 April 2009 v New Zealand
ODI debut 18 December 1989 v Pakistan
(cap 74)
Last ODI 5 November 2009 v Australia
ODI shirt no. 10
Domestic team information
Years Team
1988–
Mumbai
present
2008-
Mumbai Indians (Indian Premier League)
present
1992 Yorkshire
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches 159 435 261 522
Runs scored 12,773 17,168 21,662 20,720
Batting average 54.58 44.59 58.70 45.43
100s/50s 42/53 45/91 69/99 56/109
Top score 248* 186* 248* 186*
Balls bowled 3,934 8,015 7,299 10,191
Wickets 44 154 69 201
Bowling average 51.63 44.19 60.34 41.96
5 wickets in innings 0 2 0 2
10 wickets in match 0 n/a 0 n/a
Best bowling 3/10 5/32 3/10 5/32
Catches/stumpings 102/– 132/– 170/– 167/–
Source: CricketArchive, March 31 2009

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar pronunciation (help·info) (Marathi: सिचन रमेश तेडुलकर)

(born April 24, 1973 in Mumbai) is an Indian cricketer widely regarded as one of the
greatest batsmen in the history of cricket.He is the only player in the world to score more
than 17,000 runs[7][8][9] In 2002, Wisden ranked him the second greatest Test batsman of
all time, next to Donald Bradman, and the second greatest one day international (ODI)
batsman of all time, next to Viv Richards.[10] In September 2007, the Australian leg
spinner Shane Warne rated Tendulkar as the greatest player he has played with or against.
[11]
Tendulkar was the only player of the current generation to be included in Bradman's
Eleven.[nb 1] He is sometimes referred to as Little Master or Master Blaster.[13][14]

Tendulkar is the highest run scorer in both Test matches and ODIs, and also the batsman
with the most centuries in either form of the game. The first player to score fifty centuries
in all international cricket combined, he now has more than eighty international centuries.

On October 17, 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 runs in that form of the
game,[15] having also been the third batsman and first Indian to pass 11,000 runs in Test
cricket.[16] 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. 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 10 Test centuries against Australia, after only Sir Jack Hobbs of England more than
70 years back.[17] Tendulkar has been honored with the Padma Vibhushan award, India's
second highest civilian award, and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, India's highest
sporting honor.
Contents
[hide]

• 1 Early years and personal life

• 2 Early domestic career
• 3 International career
o 3.1 Early career
o 3.2 Rise through the ranks
o 3.3 Captaincy
o 3.4 Injuries
o 3.5 Comeback
o 3.6 2007/08 tour of Australia
o 3.7 Home series against South Africa
• 4 Indian Premier League
o 4.1 Sri Lanka Series
o 4.2 Return to form and breaking the record
o 4.3 ODI and Test Series against England
o 4.4 Sri Lanka ODIs again
o 4.5 New Zealand Series
o 4.6 Compaq Cup in Sri Lanka
o 4.7 ICC Champions Trophy 2009
o 4.8 India-Australia ODI Series
• 5 Style of play
• 6 Career achievements
o 6.1 Individual honours & appreciations
o 6.2 Praise by other cricketers
• 7 Controversies
o 7.1 Mike Denness incident
o 7.2 Controversy over Ferrari customs waiver
• 8 Fan following
• 9 Business interests
o 9.1 Product and brand endorsements
• 10 Biographies
• 11 See also
• 12 Notes
• 13 References
• 14 Further reading

• 15 External links

Early years and personal life

Tendulkar was born in Bombay (now Mumbai). 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 Savitai.

Tendulkar attended Sharadashram Vidyamandir (High School)[1], where he began his

cricketing career under the guidance of his coach and mentor, Ramakant Achrekar.
During his school days he attended the MRF Pace Foundation to train as a fast bowler,
but Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee, who took a world record 355 Test wickets, was
unimpressed, suggesting that Tendulkar focus on his batting instead.[18]

When he was young, Tendulkar would practice for hours on end in the nets. If he became
exhausted, Achrekar would put a one-Rupee-coin on the top of the stumps, and the
bowler who dismissed Tendulkar would get the coin. If Tendulkar passed the whole
session without getting dismissed, the coach would give him the coin. Tendulkar now
considers the 13 coins he won then as some of his most prized possessions.[19]

While at school, he developed a reputation as a child prodigy. He had become a common

conversation point in Mumbai circles, where there were suggestions already that he
would become one of the greats. His season in 1988 was extraordinary, with Tendulkar
scoring a century in every innings he played. He was involved in an unbroken 664-run
partnership in a Lord Harris Shield inter-school game in 1988 with friend and team mate
Vinod Kambli, who would also go on to represent India. The destructive pair reduced one
bowler to tears and made the rest of the opposition unwilling to continue the game.
Tendulkar scored 326* in this innings and scored over a thousand runs in the tournament.
[20]
This was a record partnership in any form of cricket until 2006, when it was broken by
two under-13 batsmen in a match held at Hyderabad in India.

When he was 14, Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar gave him a pair of his own ultra
light pads. "It was the greatest source of encouragement for me," he said nearly 20 years
later after surpassing Gavaskar's top world record of 34 Test centuries.[21] In 1995, Sachin
Tendulkar married Anjali (born November 10, 1967), a paediatrician and daughter of
Gujarati industrialist Anand Mehta. They have two children, Sara (born October 12,
1997), and Arjun (born September 24, 1999).[22]

Tendulkar sponsors 200 underprivileged children every year through Apnalaya, a

Mumbai-based NGO associated with his mother-in-law, Annaben Mehta. [23]

Early domestic career

On December 11, 1988, aged just 15 years and 232 days, Tendulkar scored 100 not out in
his debut first-class match for Bombay against Gujarat, making him the youngest Indian
to score a century on first-class debut. He followed this by scoring a century in his first
Deodhar and Duleep Trophy. [24]. He was picked by the Mumbai captain Dilip Vengsarkar
after seeing him negotiate Kapil Dev in the nets.[1], and finished the season as Bombay's
highest run-scorer.[25][26] He also made an unbeaten century in the Irani Trophy final,[27]
and was selected for the tour of Pakistan next year, after just one first class season.[28]
His first double century was for Mumbai while playing against the visiting Australian
team at the Brabourne Stadium in 1998.[1] He is the only player to score a century in all
three of his Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Irani Trophy debuts.[29]

In 1992, at the age of 19, Tendulkar became the first overseas born player to represent
Yorkshire[1][30] Tendulkar played 16 first-class matches for the county and scored 1070
runs at an average of 46.52.[31]

International career
Early career

Tendulkar played his first Test match against Pakistan in Karachi in 1989 aged just 16.He
made just 15 runs, being bowled by Waqar Younis, who also made his debut in that
match, but was noted for how he handled numerous blows to his body at the hands of the
Pakistani pace attack.[32] In the final test in Sialkot, he was hit on the nose by a bouncer,
but he declined medical assistance and continued to bat even as he gushed blood from it.
[33]
In a 20 over exhibition game in Peshawar, Tendulkar made 53 runs of 18 balls,
including an over in which he scored 28 runs off Abdul Qadir[34]. This was later called
"one of the best innings I have seen" by the then Indian captain Kris Srikkanth.[35] In all,
he scored 215 runs at an average of 35.83 in the Test series, and was dismissed without
scoring a run in the only One Day International he played.[36][37]

The series was followed by a tour of New Zealand in which he scored 117 runs at an
average of 29.25 in, Tests including an innings of 88 in the Second Test.[38] He was
dismissed without scroing in one the two one-day games he played, and scored 36 in the
other. [39] On his next tour, to England in 1990, he became the second youngest cricketer
to score a Test century as he made 119* at Old Trafford.[33]Wisden described his innings
as "a disciplined display of immense maturity" and also wrote:[40]

"He looked the embodiment of India's famous opener, Gavaskar, and indeed was wearing a pair
of his pads. While he displayed a full repertoire of strokes in compiling his maiden Test hundred,
most remarkable were his off-side shots from the back foot. Though only 5ft 5in tall, he was still
able to control without difficulty short deliveries from the English paceman."

Tendulkar further enhanced his development during the 1991–1992 tour of Australia, that
included an unbeaten 148 in Sydney and a century on a fast, bouncing pitch at Perth.
Merv Hughes commented to Allan Border at the time that "This little prick's going to get
more runs than you, AB."[41]

Rise through the ranks

Tendulkar waits at the bowler's end.

Tendulkar's performance through the years 1994–1999 coincided with his physical peak,
in his early twenties. On the day of the Hindu festival Holi, Tendulkar was told to open
the batting at Auckland against New Zealand in 1994.[42] He went on to make 82 runs off
49 balls. He scored his first ODI century on September 9, 1994 against Australia in Sri
Lanka at Colombo. It had taken him 79 ODIs to score a century.

In 1996 against Pakistan in Sharjah, Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin was going
through a lean patch. Tendulkar and Navjot Singh Sidhu both made centuries to set a
record partnership for the second wicket. After getting out, Tendulkar found Azharuddin
in two minds to bat out. Tendulkar boosted Azharuddin to bat and Azharuddin
subsequently unleashed 29 runs in mere 10 balls. It enabled India post a score in excess
of 300 runs for the first time. India went on to win that match.

Tendulkar's rise continued when he was the leading run scorer at the 1996 Cricket World
Cup, topping the batting averages whilst scoring two centuries. He was the only Indian
batsman to perform in the infamous semi-final of that World Cup. When Tendulkar's
wicket fell, the Indian batting lineup collapsed and India conceded defeat after the crowd
began angry demonstrations.

This was the beginning of a period at the top of the batting world, culminating in the
Australian tour of India in early 1998, with Tendulkar scoring three consecutive
centuries. These were characterized by a premeditated plan to target Australian spinners
Shane Warne and Gavin Robertson, to whom he regularly charged down the pitch to
drive over the infield. This technique worked as India beat Australia. The test match
success was followed by two scintillating knocks in Sharjah where he scored two
consecutive centuries in a must-win game and then in finals against Australia tormenting
Shane Warne once again. Following the series Warne ruefully joked that he was having
nightmares about his Indian nemesis.[43] He also had a role with the ball in that series,
including a 5 wicket haul in an ODI. Set 310 runs to win, Australia were cruising
comfortably at 3 for 203 in the 31st over when Tendulkar turned the match for India
taking wickets of Michael Bevan, Steve Waugh, Darren Lehmann, Tom Moody and
Damien Martyn for just 32 runs in 10 overs.[44]

Tendulkar single-handedly won the ICC 1998 quarterfinal at Dhaka to pave way for
India's entry into the semifinals, when he took 4 Australian wickets after scoring 141 runs
in just 128 balls.
A chronic back problem flared up when Pakistan toured India in 1999, with India losing
the historic Test at Chepauk despite a gritty century from Tendulkar himself. The worst
was yet to come as Professor Ramesh Tendulkar, Tendulkar's father, died in the middle
of the 1999 Cricket World Cup. Tendulkar flew back to India to attend the final rituals of
his father, missing the match against Zimbabwe. However, he returned with a bang to the
World cup scoring a century (unbeaten 140 off 101 balls) in his very next match against
Kenya in Bristol. He dedicated this century to his father.[45]

Captaincy

Tendulkar's two tenures as captain of the Indian cricket team were not very successful.
When Tendulkar took over as Captain in 1996, it was with huge hopes and expectations.
However, by 1997 the team was performing poorly. Azharuddin was credited with saying
"Nahin jeetega! Chote ki naseeb main jeet nahin hai!",[46] which translates into: "He won't
win! It's not in the small one's destiny".

Tendulkar, succeeding Azharuddin as captain for his second term, then led India on a tour
of Australia, where the visitors were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by the newly-crowned
world champions.[47] Tendulkar, however, was at his usual best and won the player of the
tournament award as well as player of the match in one of the games. After another Test
series defeat, this time by a 0-2 margin at home against South Africa, Tendulkar resigned,
and Sourav Ganguly took over as captain in 2000.

Tendulkar remains an integral part of the Indian team's strategic processes. He is often
seen in discussion with the captain, at times actively involved in building strategies.
Former captain Rahul Dravid publicly acknowledged that Tendulkar had been suggesting
moves such as the promotion of Irfan Pathan up the batting order which, although only
temporary, had an immediate effect on the team's fortunes.

Injuries

Tendulkar continued his good form in Test cricket in 2001 and 2002, with some pivotal
performances with both bat and ball. Tendulkar took three wickets on the final day of the
famous Kolkata Test against Australia in 2001. Tendulkar took the key wickets of
Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist, centurions in the previous test.

Tendulkar made 673 runs in 11 matches in the 2003 Cricket World Cup, helping India
reach the final. While Australia retained the trophy that they had won in 1999, Tendulkar
was given the Man of the Tournament award. The drawn series as India toured Australia
in 2003/04 saw Tendulkar making his mark in the last Test of the series, with 241* in
Sydney, putting India in a virtually unbeatable position. He followed up the innings with
an unbeaten 50 in the second innings of the test and then an unbeaten 194 against
Pakistan at Multan in the following series. The 194 was controversial in that he was
stranded prior to reaching his double century as a result of a declaration by Rahul Dravid.
In meeting with the press that evening, Tendulkar responded to a question on missing 200
against Pakistan by stating that he was disappointed and that the declaration had taken
him by surprise.[48] Many former cricketers commented that Dravid's declaration was in
bad taste.[49][50] The media noted at the time that the decision had apparently been made by
Sourav Ganguly,[51] and Ganguly himself later admitted that it had been a mistake.[52] The
controversy was put to rest when Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and coach John Wright
spoke to the media after the team's victory and stated that the matter was spoken
internally and put to rest.[53]

Although he was in strong form, tennis elbow then took its toll on Tendulkar, leaving him
out of the side for most of the year, coming back only for the last two tests when
Australia toured India in 2004. He played a part in India's victory in Mumbai in that
series, though Australia took the series 2-1.

On December 10, 2005 at Feroz Shah Kotla, Tendulkar scored his record-breaking 35th
Test century, against the Sri Lankans. On February 6, 2006, he scored his 39th ODI
hundred, in a match against Pakistan. He followed with a run-a-ball 42 in the second one-
day international against Pakistan on February 11, 2006, and then a 95 in hostile, seaming
conditions on February 13, 2006 in Lahore, which set up an Indian victory.

On March 19, 2006, after scoring an unconvincing 1 off 21 balls 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,[54][55] the first time that he had ever faced such flak.
Tendulkar was to end the three-Test series without a single half-century to his credit, and
news of a shoulder operation raised more questions about his longevity. Tendulkar was
operated upon for his injured shoulder. In July 2006, the Board of Control for Cricket in
India (BCCI) announced that Tendulkar had overcome his injury problem following a
rehabilitation programme and was available for selection, and he was eventually selected
for the next series.

Comeback

Tendulkar's comeback came in the DLF cup in Malaysia and he was the only Indian
batsman to shine. In his comeback match, against West Indies on September 14, 2006,
Tendulkar responded to his critics who believed that his career was inexorably sliding
with his 40th ODI century. Though he scored 141*, West Indies won the rain-affected
match by the D/L method.

In the preparation for the 2007 Cricket World Cup, Tendulkar was criticized by Greg
Chappell on his attitude.[56] As per the report, Chappell felt that Tendulkar would be more
useful down the order, while the latter felt that he would be better off opening the
innings, the role he had played for most of his career. Chappell also believed that
Tendulkar's repeated failures were hurting the team's chances. In a rare show of emotion,
Tendulkar hit out at the comments attributed to Chappell by pointing out that no coach
has ever suggested his attitude towards cricket is incorrect. On April 7, 2007, the Board
of Control for Cricket in India issued a notice to Tendulkar asking for an explanation for
his comments made to the media.[57]
At the Cricket World Cup 2007 in the West Indies, Tendulkar and the Indian cricket
team, led by Rahul Dravid had a dismal campaign. Tendulkar, who was pushed to bat
lower down the order by the Greg Chappell had scores of 7 (Bangladesh), 57* (Bermuda)
and 0 (Sri Lanka). As a result, former Australian captain Ian Chappell, brother of the then
Indian coach Greg, called for Tendulkar to retire in his column for Mumbai's Mid Day
newspaper.[58]

In the subsequent series against Bangladesh, Tendulkar returned to his opening slot and
was Man of the Series. He continued by scoring two consecutive scores of 90+ in the
Future Cup against South Africa. He was the leading run scorer and was adjudged the
Man of the Series.[59]

Tendulkar celebrates upon reaching his 38th Test century against Australia in the 2nd
Test at the SCG in 2008, where he finished not out on 154

On the second day of the Nottingham Test (July 28, 2007) Tendulkar became the third
cricketer to complete 11,000 Test runs.[60] In the subsequent One day series against
England, Tendulkar was the leading run scorer from India[61] with an average of 53.42. In
the ODI Series against Australia in October 2007 Tendulkar was the leading Indian run
scorer with 278 runs.[62]

Tendulkar was dismissed seven times in 2007 between 90 and 100, including three times
at 99, leading some to suggest that he struggles to cope with nerves in this phase of his
career. Tendulkar has got out 23 times between 90 and 100 in his international career. On
November 8, 2007 he got out on 99 against Pakistan in an ODI at Mohali to the bowling
of Umar Gul caught by Kamran Akmal. In the fourth ODI, he got out on 97 (off 102 balls
with 16 fours) after dragging a delivery from Umar Gul on to his stumps, falling short of
another century in ODIs in 2007.

2007/08 tour of Australia

In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, 2007-08, Tendulkar showed exceptional form, becoming

the leading run scorer with 493 runs in four Tests, despite consistently failing in the
second innings. Sachin scored 62 runs in the first innings of the first Test at the MCG in
Melbourne, but couldn't prevent a heavy 337-run win for Australia. In the controversial
New Years Test at Sydney, Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 154 as India lost the Test. This
was his third century at the SCG, earning him an average of 221.33 at the ground. In the
third Test at the WACA in Perth, Sachin was instrumental in India's first innings score of
330, scoring a well compiled 71, only to be dismissed by what was later confirmed to be
a questionable LBW decision. India went on to record a historic triumph at the WACA.
In the fourth Test at Adelaide, which ended in a draw, he scored 153 in the first innings,
involving in a crucial 126 run stand with V.V.S. Laxman for the fifth wicket to lead India
to a score of 282 for 5 from 156 for 4. He secured the Player of the Match award.

In the One-Day International Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series involving Sri Lanka and
Australia, Tendulkar became the first and only batsman to complete 16,000 runs in ODIs.
He achieved this feat against Sri Lanka on February 5, 2008 at Brisbane. He started the
CB series well notching up scores of 10, 35, 44 and 32, but could not convert the starts
into bigger scores. His form dipped a bit in the middle of the tournament, but Tendulkar
came back strongly in India's must-win game against Sri Lanka at Hobart, scoring 63 off
54 balls. He finished the series with a match winning 117 not out off 120 balls in the first
final,[63] and 91 runs in the second final.[64]

Home series against South Africa

In the first test of a three-test series against South Africa at home, Sachin was out for 0 in
the first innings, but the flat track and huge scores by both teams meant he did not have to
bat again. He missed the rest of the series, which was drawn 1-1, with an injury.

Indian Premier League

Tendulkar was made the icon player and captain for his home side, the Mumbai Indians
in the inaugural Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition in 2008.[65] As an icon
player, he was signed for a sum of US$1,121,250, 15% more than the second-highest
paid player in the team, Sanath Jayasuriya.[66]

Sri Lanka Series

Before the three test series in Sri Lanka in mid 2008, Sachin needed just 177 runs to go
past Brian Lara's record of 11,953 runs in test cricket. However, he failed in all six
innings, scoring a total of just 95 runs. In fact, with the exception of Virender Sehwag
and to an extent Gautam Gambhir, all Indian batsman failed dismally on the tour, and
India lost 1-2.

Return to form and breaking the record

In the following ODI series against Sri Lanka, Sachin was out due to injury. However,
during the following Australia tour of India, he returned to fitness and form, scoring 13
and 49 in the first test before making 88 in the first innings of the second test, thus
breaking the record for most number of Test Runs previously held by Brian Lara. He also
reached the 12,000 run mark when he was on 61. He made a fifty in the third test and 109
in the fourth, as India won the series 2-0 and regained the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

ODI and Test Series against England

Tendulkar was again out due to injury from the first three ODIs of a 7-match ODI series
at home against England, but he made 11 in the fourth ODI and 50 in the second, before
the ODI series was called off due to the Mumbai terror attacks, the scoreline being 5-0 to
India. England returned for a 2-match test series in December 2008, and in the first test in
Chennai, chasing 387 for victory, Sachin made 103 not out in a 163-run unbroken fifth
wicket stand with Yuvraj Singh. This was his third century in a fourth match innings, and
the first which resulted in a win. This was redemption for the Chennai Test of 1999 when
chasing 271 against Pakistan, Sachin had made 136 with severe back pain and was out 17
runs short of the target, precipitating a collapse and a loss by 12 runs. He dedicated this
century to the victims of the Mumbai terror attacks. Though Sachin failed in both innings
in the second test, India won the series 1-0.

Sri Lanka ODIs again

In early 2009, India revisited Sri Lanka for 5 ODIs, as the Pakistan series had been
cancelled due to the security situation in Pakistan and the attacks in Mumbai. In the first
3 ODIs, Sachin made 5,6 and 7, being incorrectly given out LBW on all three occasions.
Then he was injured again.

New Zealand Series

India's next assignment was the away series against New Zealand.It consisted of 3 tests
and 5 ODIs. In the ODI series, Sachin started off with 20 in the first match followed by
61 in the second. Then he made a marathon 163 not out in the third ODI and looked like
getting a double hundred before stomach cramps forced him to retire hurt. India made
392 and won easily. Sachin was out of the next two ODIs due to injury but India won the
series 3-1 with one game washed away. Tendulkar made 160 in the first test, his 42nd
Test century, and India won. He made 49 and 64 in the second test and 62 and 9 in the
third, in which India were prevented from winning by rain on the last day.India won the
series 1-0.

Compaq Cup in Sri Lanka

Sachin rested himself for the ODI tour of West Indies, but was back for the Compaq Cup
(Tri Series) between India, SL and New Zealand in early September 2009. He made 46
and 27 in the league matches before notching up 138 in the final, as India made 319 and
won by 46 runs. This was Sachin's 6th century in ODI finals and his third consecutive
score of over 50 in such finals. India has won all six times that Sachin has made a
hundred in an ODI final.
ICC Champions Trophy 2009

Sachin played just one innings in the ICC Champions trophy in South Africa, scoring 8
against Pakistan as India lost. The next match against Australia was washed out and
Sachin was out with food poisoning in the third match against the Windies, as India
crashed out even after beating the Windies.

India-Australia ODI Series

Australia returned for a 7-match ODI series in India in October, and Tendulkar made 14,
4, 32 and 40 in the first four games, with a poor LBW decision going against him in the
fourth match.

In the fifth match, with the series tied at 2-2, Australia amassed 350/4 in 50 overs.
Sehwag made 38 and Raina 59, but it was Sachin Tendulkar who stole the show with an
aggressive 45th ODI hundred, a 175 off just 141 balls. Just when it seemed that he would
almost single-handedly take India home, he paddle-scooped debutant bowler Clint
McKay straight to short fine leg, with India needing 19 from 18 balls with four wickets
left. The rest of the Indian batsmen panicked, and India lost by 3 runs, being all out for
347.

During this match, Tendulkar also became the first player to reach 17000 ODI runs, and
achieved his personal best against Australia, as well as the third highest score in a defeat.
He described it as one of his best innings but said it could have been better had India won
the match.

Style of play

Tendulkar plays a wristy leg-side flick

Tendulkar is ambidextrous: He bats, bowls and throws with his right hand, but writes
with his left hand.[67] He also practices left-handed throws at the nets on a regular basis.
Cricinfo columnist Sambit Bal has described him as the "most wholesome batsman of his
time".[1] His batting is based on complete balance and poise while limiting unnecessary
movements and flourishes. He appears to show little preference for the slow and low
wickets which are typical in India, and has scored many centuries on the hard, bouncy
pitches in South Africa and Australia.[1] He is known for his unique punch style of hitting
the ball over square. He is also renowned for his picture-perfect straight drive, often
completed with no follow-through. Recently, legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar,
in an article he wrote in the AFP, remarked that "it is hard to imagine any player in the
history of the game who combines classical technique with raw aggression like the little
champion does".[6]

Sir Donald Bradman, considered by many the greatest batsman of all time, considered
Tendulkar to have a batting style similar to his. In his biography, it is stated that
"Bradman was most taken by Tendulkar's technique, compactness and shot production,
and had asked his wife to have a look at Tendulkar, having felt that Tendulkar played like
him. Bradman's wife, Jessie, agreed that they did appear similar."[68][69]

Tendulkar at the crease, getting ready to face a delivery.

Former Australian cricket team coach John Buchanan voiced his opinion that Tendulkar
had become susceptible to the short ball early in his innings because of a lack of
footwork.[70] Buchanan also believes Tendulkar has a weakness while playing left-arm
pace.[70] He was affected by a series of injuries since 2004. Since then Tendulkar's batting
has tended to be less attacking. Explaining this change in his batting style, he has
acknowledged that he is batting differently due to that fact that (1) No batsman can bat
the same way for the entire length of a long career and (2) He is a senior member of the
team now and thus has more responsibility. During the early part of his career he was a
more attacking batsman and frequently scored centuries at close to a run a ball. Ian
Chappell, former Australian player, recently remarked that "Tendulkar now, is nothing
like the player he was when he was a young bloke".[71] However, during the latest tour of
Australia in 2008, Tendulkar displayed glimpses of his attacking style with several
masterful innings, dominating attacks in a manner reminiscent of his younger days.

While Tendulkar is not a regular bowler, he is adept at bowling medium pace, leg spin,
and off spin with equal ease. He often bowls when two batsmen of the opposite team
have been batting together for a long period, as he can often be a useful partnership
breaker. With his bowling, he has helped secure an Indian victory on more than one
occasion.[72] He has taken 44 test match wickets and is the 9th highest wicket taker for
India in ODIs.[73]

Career achievements
Main articles: Achievements of Sachin Tendulkar and List of ODI Awards for Sachin
Tendulkar

An innings-by-innings breakdown of Tendulkar's Test match batting career, showing runs

scored (red bars) and the average of the last ten innings (blue line).

Sachin Tendulkar is the most prolific run scorer in one-day internationals with 17,168
runs. With a current aggregate of 12,773 Test runs, he surpassed Brian Lara's previous
record tally of 11,953 runs as the highest run scorer in test matches in the second Test of
Australia's 2008 tour of India in Mohali.[15] [74] Sachin described “It is definitely the
biggest achievement in 19 years of my career” on the day he achieved the record.[75] He
also holds the record of highest number of centuries in both Test (42) and ODI cricket
(45). Throughout his career, he has made a strong impact on Indian cricket and was, at
one time, the foundation of most of the team's victories. In recognition with his impact on
sport in a cricket-loving country like India, Tendulkar has been granted the Rajiv Gandhi
Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award, Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan by the Government of
India. He was also elected Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1997 and is ranked by the
objective scoring method of the Wisden 100 as the second best test batsman and best ODI
batsman of all time.

Tendulkar has also consistently done well in Cricket World Cups. Tendulkar was the
highest run scorer of the 2003 Cricket World Cup and 1996 Cricket World Cup.
Tendulkar has scored over 1000 runs in a calendar year in ODIs 7 times, and in 1998 he
scored 1894 runs, easily the record for the highest number of runs scored by any player in
a single calendar year for one day internationals. Tendulkar is also one of the very few
players who are still playing in international cricket from the 1980s.

He has been Man of the Match 11 times in Test matches and Man of the Series 4 times,[76]
out of them twice in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The performances
earned him respect from Australian cricket fans and players.[41] Similarly he has been
Man of the Match 60 times in One day International matches and Man of the Series 14
times.

Individual honours & appreciations

• Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award, 2008.[77]

• ICC World ODI XI: 2004, 2007
• Rajiv Gandhi Awards - Sports: 2005[78]
• Player of the tournament in 2003 Cricket World Cup
• Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, 1999[79]
 • Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India’s highest honour given for achievement in sports,
1997-98.[80]
• Wisden Cricketer of the Year: 1997
• Arjuna Award, by the Government of India in recognition of his outstanding
achievement in Cricket, 1994.[81]

In January 2008, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown suggested that Sachin should be
conferred with an honorary knighthood for his contribution to international cricket.[82] He
was mentioned in the TIME magazine as the "The greatest living exponent of his
craft."[83]

Praise by other cricketers

In September 2007, former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne published his list of the
50 greatest cricketers who had played during his time, in which Tendulkar had secured
the number 1 spot.[11] Sunil Gavaskar, one of the greatest Indian Test batsmen, regarded
as Tendulkar as being the "closest thing to batting perfection."[84] Shane Warne had
mentioned a decade back, "I'll be going to bed having nightmares of Sachin just running
down the wicket and belting me back over the head for six. He was unstoppable. I don't
think anyone, apart from Don Bradman, is in the same class as Sachin Tendulkar. He is
just an amazing player."[85][86][87] He has received such appreciations from various other
cricketers, including Wasim Akram who said "Cricketers like Sachin come once in a
lifetime and I am privileged he played in my time."[86], Viv Richards who said "He is 99.5
percent perfect. I'd pay to see him."[88], Brian Lara who said "You know genius when you
see it. And let me tell you, Sachin is pure genius."[83], and Barry Richards who said
"Sachin is cricket's God." [86] Former New Zealand all-rounder Richard Hadlee believes
Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest batsman ever to grace the game.[89] Former Australian
captain Steve Waugh has said in the past that Tendulkar will go down in history as the
best ever batsman after Bradman. Former South African great Allan Donald considers
Tendulkar to be the best batsman he has ever bowled to.[90] Current Australian captain
Ricky Ponting too believes that Tendulkar is the best batsman he has seen or played
against.[91]

Controversies
Mike Denness incident

Main article: Mike Denness and Indian cricket team incident

In the second test of India's 2001 tour of South Africa, match referee Mike Denness fined
four Indian players for excessive appealing as well as the Indian captain Sourav Ganguly
for not controlling his team.[92] Tendulkar was given a suspended ban of one game in light
of alleged ball tampering. Television cameras picked up images that suggested Tendulkar
may have been involved in cleaning the seam of the cricket ball in the second test match
between India and South Africa at St George's Park, Port Elizabeth.[93] This can, under
some conditions, amount to altering the condition of the ball. The match referee Mike
Denness found Sachin Tendulkar guilty of ball tampering charges and handed him a one
Test match ban.[94] The incident escalated to include allegations of racism,[95] and led to
Mike Denness being barred from entering the venue of the third test match. After a
thorough investigation, the International Cricket Council revoked the official status of the
match and the ban on Tendulkar was lifted. Tendulkar's ball tampering charges and
Sehwag's ban for excessive appealing triggered a massive backlash from the Indian
public and even the Indian parliament.[96]

Controversy over Ferrari customs waiver

In commemorating Sachin Tendulkar's feat of equalling Don Bradman's 29 centuries in

Test Cricket, automotive giant Ferrari invited Sachin Tendulkar to its paddock in
Silverstone on the eve of the British Grand Prix (July 23, 2002) to receive a Ferrari 360
Modena from the legendary F1 racer Michael Schumacher.[97] On September 4, 2002
India's then finance minister Jaswant Singh wrote to Sachin telling him that the
government will waive customs duty imposed on the car as a measure to applaud his feat.
[98]
However the rules at the time stated that the customs duty can be waived only when
receiving an automobile as a prize and not as a gift. It is claimed that the proposals to
change the law (Customs Act) was put forth in Financial Bill in February 2003 and
amended was passed as a law in May 2003. Subsequently the Ferrari was allowed to be
brought to India without payment of the customs duty (Rs 1.13 Crores or 120% on the car
value of Rs 75 Lakhs).[99] When the move to waive customs duty became public in July
2003, political and social activists protested the waiver[100] and filed PIL in the Delhi High
Court. With the controversy snowballing, Sachin offered to pay the customs duty and the
tab was finally picked up by Ferrari.[101] Tendulkar has been seen taking his Ferrari 360
Modena for late-night drives in Mumbai.

Fan following
Sachin Tendulkar's entry into world cricket was very much hyped up by former Indian
stars and those who had seen him play. By scoring his first half-century in his second
match and his first century aged 17, Tendulkar's consistent performances earned him a
fan following across the globe, including amongst Australian crowds, where Tendulkar
has consistently scored centuries.[41] One of the most popular sayings by Sachin's fans is
"Cricket is my religion and Sachin is my God".[82] Cricinfo mentions in his profile that
"...Tendulkar remains, by a distance, the most worshipped cricketer in the world."[102]

At home in Mumbai, Tendulkar's fan following is so great that he is unable to lead a

normal life. Ian Chappell has said that he would be unable to cope with the lifestyle
Tendulkar was forced to lead, having to "wear a wig and go out and watch a movie only
at night".[71] In an interview with Tim Sheridan, Tendulkar admitted that he sometimes
went for quiet drives in the streets of Mumbai late at night when he would be able to
enjoy some peace and silence.[103]

Business interests
Tendulkar's immense popularity has led him to numerous profitable business dealings in
the past. He currently has the most sponsorships out of all players in world cricket.
Sachin Tendulkar was an early pioneer in India on cricket business dealings when he
signed a then record sports management deal with Worldtel in 1995, the value of the deal
being 30 crore rupees over 5 years.[104] His next contract with WorldTel in 2001 was
valued at 80 crores over 5 years.[105] In 2006, he signed a contract with Saatchi and
Saatchi's ICONIX values at 180 crores over 3 years.[106] He is the highest earning
cricketer in the world.

Making use of his popularity, Tendulkar has opened two restaurants: 'Tendulkar's'[107]
(Colaba, Mumbai) & 'Sachin's'[108] (Mulund, Mumbai). Sachin owns these restaurants in
partnership with Sanjay Narang of Mars Restaurants. He has also got a new restaurant in
Bangalore called Sachin's.

In 2007, Tendulkar also announced a JV with the Future Group and Manipal Group to
launch healthcare and sports fitness products under the brand name 'S Drive and Sach'.[109]
A series of comic books by Virgin Comics is also due to be published featuring him as a
superhero.[110]

Product and brand endorsements

Sachin Tendulkar endorses the following products:

• Pepsi: 1992 - Present[111]

• Canon: 2006 - 2009[112]
• Airtel: 2004-2006[113]
• Nazara Technologies: 2005 - 2008. License for Mobile Content development
based on Sachin.[114]
o Reliance Communications sub-licensed brand 'Sachin Tendulkar' to update
the user of the latest 2007 Cricket World Cup scores and news in Sachin's
voice. Hutch - ICC's prime communication sponsor protested calling
Reliance's plan as 'ambush marketing', a charge that Reliance
Communication denies.[115]
• Britannia: 2001 - 2007[116]
• HomeTrade: 2001 - 2002[117]
• Sunfeast: 2007 - 2013/14[118]
• National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC): 2003 - 2005[119]
• Boost: 1990 - Present[120]
• Action Shoes: 1995 - 2000[121]
• Adidas: 2000-2010[122]
• Fiat Palio: 2001 to 2003[123]
• Reynolds: 2007 - Present[124]
• TVS: 2002 - 2005[125]
• ESPN Star Sports: 2002 - Present[126]
• G-Hanz: 2005 - 2007[127]
• Sanyo BPL: 2007 - Present[128]
 • AIDS Awareness Campaign: 2005[129]
• Colgate-Palmolive[130]
• Philips[130]
• MRF[130]
• VISA[130]
• Aviva
• Royal Bank of Scotland Group

Biographies
Sachin Tendulkar has been the subject of various books. The following is the listing of
books focused on Tendulkar's career:

• Sachin: The Story of the World's Greatest Batsman by Gulu Ezekiel. Publisher:
Penguin Global. ISBN 978-0-14-302854-3[131]
• The A to Z of Sachin Tendulkar by Gulu Ezekiel. Publisher: Penguin Global.
ISBN 978-81-7476-530-7[132][133]
• Sachin Tendulkar-a definitive biography by Vaibhav Purandare. Publisher: Roli
Books. ISBN 81-7436-360-2[134][135]
• Sachin Tendulkar - Masterful by Peter Murray, Ashish Shukla. Publisher: Rupa.
ISBN 81-7167-806-8[136][137]
• If Cricket is a Religion, Sachin is God by Vijay Santhanam ,Shyam
Balasubramanian Publisher : HarperCollins India ISBN 978-81-7223-821-6[138]

See also
Cricket portal

• List of International cricket centuries by Sachin Tendulkar

• Indian cricket team
• Indian national cricket captains
• Wisden Cricketers of the Year
• List of One-day International records

Notes
1. ^ Bradman's team: Barry Richards (South Africa), Arthur Morris (Australia), Don
Bradman (Australia), Sachin Tendulkar (India), Garry Sobers (West Indies), Don
Tallon (Australia), Ray Lindwall (Australia), Dennis Lillee (Australia), Alec
Bedser (England), Bill O'Reilly (cricketer) (Australia), Clarrie Grimmett
(Australia). 12th man Wally Hammond (England)[12]