April 24 marks the 52nd birthday of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, the man who transcended the boundaries of cricket to become a global sporting icon. As fans across the world celebrate the “God of Cricket,” we take a look at some astonishing facts and records that define his legacy.
A 24-Year-Long Symphony
From his debut in 1989 to his final walk back in 2013, Sachin Tendulkar’s international career spanned 24 glorious years. During that time, he played alongside and against 989 different cricketers — a staggering figure that reflects his longevity and consistent relevance across generations.
The Greatest Match-Winner
No one carried the hopes of a nation quite like Sachin. He top-scored in an innings a record 207 times, outpacing modern greats like Virat Kohli (162), Kumar Sangakkara (154), and Brian Lara (135). His knack for delivering in crunch situations is legendary.
A Record Book in Human Form
Here are just a handful of mind-blowing stats from his career:
200 Tests, 463 ODIs
34,357 International runs
100 International centuries (51 in Tests, 49 in ODIs)
164 Fifties, 76 times crossing 90
Highest Score: 248 in Tests, 200 in ODIs
201 Man of the Match awards, 62 Man of the Series awards
Over 4,000 boundaries, 264 sixes
201 wickets as a part-time bowler
256 catches, and numerous match-winning partnerships
From Richards to Kohli – The Tendulkar Timeline
Sachin Tendulkar’s career was so long and legendary that he bridged multiple generations of cricket greats. When he made his debut in 1989, Viv Richards was one of the biggest names in world cricket. By the time Sachin retired in 2013, Virat Kohli was emerging as India’s next batting superstar.
Throughout his career, Tendulkar kept pace with — and often surpassed — the records set by some of the greatest cricketers in history. For instance:
At the time of his debut, Sunil Gavaskar held the record for most international centuries. By the time Sachin retired, he held that record.
Don Bradman had the most 150+ scores in Tests during his time — Tendulkar matched and then went beyond such elite benchmarks.
Viv Richards was known for winning matches single-handedly and had the most Man of the Match awards at one point. Sachin eventually overtook him too.
Tendulkar wasn’t just a part of cricket history — he was the bridge between eras, consistently standing out no matter who the stars of the time were.
A Lifetime of Accolades
Tendulkar’s excellence has been recognized far and wide:
Bharat Ratna – India’s highest civilian award
Padma Vibhushan, Padma Shri, Arjuna Award, Khel Ratna
Wisden Leading Cricketer, ICC Cricketer of the Year
Order of Australia, Honorary IAF Group Captain
Inducted into both the ICC Hall of Fame and the Guinness World Records
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