Sachin Tendulkar (born 24 April 1973) is a former Indian cricketer, widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time. Known as the “Little Master” and the “God of Cricket”, he played international cricket for 24 years, from the age of 16. He is the only player to score 100 international centuries and holds the records for the most runs in both Test and ODI cricket. In 2014 he became the first sportsperson, and the youngest person, to receive the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar |
| Nicknames | Little Master, Master Blaster, God of Cricket |
| Born | 24 April 1973, Bombay (now Mumbai), India |
| Age | 53 |
| Role | Right-handed batsman |
| International career | 1989–2013 |
| Matches | 200 Tests, 463 ODIs |
| Centuries | 100 (51 Test, 49 ODI) |
| Spouse | Anjali Tendulkar (m. 1995) |
| Children | 2 (Sara, Arjun) |
| Honours | Bharat Ratna (2014) |
Early Life
Tendulkar was born in Bombay. His father, Ramesh Tendulkar, was a Marathi novelist and poet, and his mother, Rajni, worked in insurance. He was named after the music director Sachin Dev Burman. His elder brother Ajit introduced him to the coach Ramakant Achrekar at Shivaji Park. In 1988, playing for his school in the Harris Shield, he and Vinod Kambli put on an unbeaten partnership of 664 runs, which drew national attention.
Career
Tendulkar made his Test debut against Pakistan in Karachi on 15 November 1989, aged just 16. He scored his first Test century at Old Trafford, England, in 1990, and he made remarkable hundreds on fast pitches in Australia in 1991–92. From 1994 he opened the batting in ODIs, which transformed his one-day career.
Tendulkar’s twin centuries against Australia in Sharjah in 1998, known as the “Desert Storm” innings, are among his most famous. He captained India in two spells in the late 1990s. At the 2003 World Cup he was named Player of the Tournament. He overtook Sunil Gavaskar‘s record of 34 Test centuries in 2005, became the leading run-scorer in Test history in 2008, and in 2010 scored the first double century in ODI cricket.
In his sixth World Cup, Tendulkar finally won the title in 2011 when MS Dhoni‘s team beat Sri Lanka in the final in Mumbai. In March 2012 he scored his 100th international century. He retired in November 2013 after his 200th Test, played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, and his farewell speech was one of Indian sport’s most emotional moments.
After Cricket
Tendulkar was a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament, from 2012 to 2018. He has been associated with Mumbai Indians in the IPL as a player and later as a mentor. He supports causes including children’s health through the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation.
Personal Life
Tendulkar married Anjali Mehta, a paediatrician, in 1995. They have a daughter, Sara, and a son, Arjun, who is a professional cricketer.
Awards and Records
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Sachin Tendulkar born?
Sachin Tendulkar was born on 24 April 1973 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India and is 53 years old.
What is Sachin Tendulkar’s role?
Role: Right-handed batsman.
What honours has Sachin Tendulkar received?
Bharat Ratna (2014).
Featured image: Sachin Tendulkar with a signed bat, alongside Pramod Kamble. Photo by Coolgama, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
