Early life and cricket journey of the great batsman
Born on 24 April 1973 in a Marathi family in Dadar, Mumbai, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is called the God of Cricket. His father Ramesh Tendulkar was a Marathi poet and novelist, while mother Rajni was employed in the insurance industry. Sachin's elder brother Ajit recognized his cricket talent and introduced him to coach Ramakant Achrekar in 1984. Sachin started playing cricket at the age of 11 and made a world record partnership of 664 runs in a school match at the age of 14.
Sachin made his Test debut against Pakistan in 1989 at the age of 16, making him India's youngest Test cricketer. He proved his talent by scoring his first Test century (119*) against England in 1990. Sachin Tendulkar made many records in a career spanning 24 years. He is the only player to score 100 centuries (51 Tests, 49 ODIs) in international cricket. He scored 15,921 runs in Tests and 18,426 in ODIs, a total of 34,357 international runs. In 2010 he became the first batsman to score a double century (200*) in ODIs. He played 200 Test matches, a world record. His "Desert Storm" innings (143) against Australia at Sharjah in 1998 and 29th Test century (equalling Bradman's record) against West Indies in 2002 are proof of his greatness.
Sachin was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1994, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 1997–98, Padma Shri in 1999, Padma Vibhushan in 2008 and Bharat Ratna in 2014 (first and youngest recipient in sports). He was named ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2010 and inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2019. On his 50th birthday in 2023, a stand at the Sharjah Stadium and a gate at the Sydney Cricket Ground will be named after him.
Sachin married Dr Anjali Mehta in 1995, with whom he has two children, Sara and Arjun. Such was his popularity, that he became synonymous with cricket in India. His simplicity, dedication and passion for the game made him a source of inspiration across the world. Players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma idolise him. Sachin retired from ODIs in 2012 and Test cricket in 2013, playing his last Test against the West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium.
Sachin Tendulkar's 52nd birthday (24 April 2025) is a celebration of not just his records, but his humility, dedication and contribution to India. From the cricket field to his social work, he is a true inspiration who has taken India to new heights in world cricket.
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