The legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar has turned 46 today and we cannot believe that the man with ‘Godlike stature’ in India is nearing his half-century. Tendulkar dedicated 24 years of his life to the game of cricket and progressed to the highest of the standards. His record of 100 International centuries looks insurmountable.
In the current generation of players, it is only the Indian skipper Virat Kohli who seems closer hos Sachin’s records. The Delhi batsman also taunted as the run machine has made 56 centuries so far in the half-way of his career and is at a great distance from Tendulkar’s batting record. Even the second-best ever on that list, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, has 71 centuries to his name and is 29-hundred apart from Tendulkar which speaks volume about latter’s batting caliber.
On the eve of his 45th birthday, Sachin recalled the memories of the 1998 birthday in Sharjah, he said, “It was a special one, a big one because it is something which happened with me for the first time on the cricket field. When I was batting there and suddenly I see this desert storm approaching us, it was like a Hollywood movie and the first thought that came to my mind was ‘Where is Gilchrist?’ because I thought I would be blown away and I was all prepared to grab him.”
WATCH: Sachin Tendulkar Spotted Playing Street Cricket In Mumbai
He further elaborated, “There was no time for recovery as such and by the time I realized the next day we were going to the ground and it happened to be my birthday so all the celebrations happened and a number of cakes were cut and here I was out in the middle. I was trying to focus and I knew it was all about spending as much time as possible there and then the rhythm was going to come back. I waited for my turn and eventually I played those couple of big shots of (Michael) Kasprowicz which went for two sixes in a row and from thereon things started rolling the way I wanted and we ended up winning the tournament. They were by far the best side in the world and go out chase 270-odd was a big ask but we were able to do that.”
Tendulkar’s celestial gifts redefined cricketing statistics: the only batsman to score 100 international centuries, the only player to play 200 Tests, the first to score a double-hundred in ODIs, the only batsman to score 30,000 international runs, and the owner of the highest number of runs and hundreds in both Tests and ODIs.
Sachin announced his arrival to international cricket when as a 16-year-old he scored 53 off 18 balls. But among the finest would be his Test-saving 119* at Old Trafford at age 17, 114 on a bouncy WACA at age 19; 155* versus Australia at Chepauk in 1988, a fourth innings 136 against Pakistan at Chepauk in 1999, 140* in the 1999 World Cup after the demise of his father, the Desert Storms (143 & 134) against Australia at Sharjah in 1988, 241* at Sydney in 2003-04.
Tendulkar has been lavishly decorated: Arjuna Award (1994), Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (1997), Padma Shri (1999) and Padma Vibhushan (2008), India’s fourth and second highest civilian awards respectively, and Bharat Ratna (2013), the highest civilian award – the youngest-ever and the only sportsperson to receive the honour. In 2012, Tendulkar was nominated to the Rajya Sabha. In 2013, the Indian Postal Service released a stamp of Tendulkar.
November 16, 2013, was one of the saddest days in post-Independent India. The man whose cricketing career was weaved with a billion plus Indians moved even the insensitive to tears with his thank you speech before leaving to what is arguably the most emotionally-charged farewell in cricket history.
Sachin, who retired from international cricket in 2013, is now associated with IPL franchise Mumbai Indians (MI) and is their team icon. In his IPL career, Sachin played 78 games and scored 2,334 runs. He has one hundred and 13 half-centuries to his name.
Here are some wishes for the master blaster from the cricketing fraternity:
Happy birthday, @sachin_rt! 🎂
The legendary India batsman played 200 Tests and 463 ODIs, amassing 34,357 international runs, including an incredible 💯 centuries!
What is your favourite "Sachin! Sachin!" moment? pic.twitter.com/UK4tOvE6kQ
— ICC (@ICC) April 24, 2019
Happy birthday to the person who is a living inspiration to all. Wishing My childhood superhero a very happy birthday! pic.twitter.com/koS64HDwCv
— K L Rahul (@klrahul) April 24, 2019
With the Master, the Rise is Faster !
46, as much as it represents the years you have blessed this planet, for me 4 6 is more about how the scorecard read at beginning of the over when you batted. May you continue to manifest your strength in innumerable ways #HappyBirthdaySachin pic.twitter.com/y5Ld3t0Ar0— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) April 24, 2019
On @sachin_rt's birthday, tell us what he means to you in one word!
We'll start: G.O.A.T. 💙#HappyBirthdaySachin #OneFamily #CricketMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians pic.twitter.com/9UtaTQwTVo
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 23, 2019
The man who redefined cricket with his unmatchable skills, Plus he’s a great human being wishes the Sachin Tendulkar a very happy birthday! #HappyBirthdaySachin | @sachin_rt pic.twitter.com/5gK7tSFVqv
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) April 24, 2019
What more could I write for someone who has inspired generations to respect, learn & be skilled at a sport loved by billions. Happy birthday, @sachin_rt stay blessed always! This time the lunch is on me😀 #HappyBirthdaySachin pic.twitter.com/uM3XjFqBaj
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) April 24, 2019
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwoQHbsAfvD/
INSPIRATION
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Happy and long life Paaji. More power to you . @sachin_rt #lovetoall #moretolife pic.twitter.com/Sqg4Gp3Icr— Murali Vijay (@mvj888) April 24, 2019
Thanks for inspiring millions like me to dream…and for turning us into believers. Keep shining. Keep inspiring. Happy Birthday 🥳 @sachin_rt paji 🤗☺️ pic.twitter.com/KLfNuiZqRe
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 24, 2019
Happy birthday paji🙏.. A man I know who is a better human being than a cricketer.. PAJI WE LOVE YOU @sachin_rt #HappyBirthdaySachin 😘😘 pic.twitter.com/EDVJdHrMk9
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) April 24, 2019
Happy Birthday to a very special cricketer and human being who gave many memorable moments to us and cricket lovers around the world. He was and continues to be a hero and an inspiration @sachin_rt . #HappyBirthdaySachin pic.twitter.com/UF9IW1eUkv
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) April 24, 2019
Happy birthday @sachin_rt. Stay blessed and touch the next generation of Indian cricket.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 24, 2019
‘Your attitude is what takes you forward in life’.
I shall never forget the valuable advices that you shared with me. Wish you a very happy birthday, @sachin_rt Sir. #HappyBirthdaySachin pic.twitter.com/9aFPFhV7KN— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) April 24, 2019
Wishing @sachin_rt a very happy birthday! The real Pied Piper of Indian cricket ! pic.twitter.com/8Asg7MDT0l
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) April 24, 2019
Happy birthday Master @sachin_rt have a blessed one 🙏🏿
— Chris Gayle (@henrygayle) April 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/hershybru/status/1120964397239816192
Most International Runs, Most International 100s, Most Runs In World Cup Series, Most 100s in World Cup Series, Most 'Man of the Series' title winner in International Cricket, and Most Loved Cricketer – Sachin Tendulkar. Happy birthday, God of Cricket! pic.twitter.com/74H3NmsNTz
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) April 24, 2019
Baar Baar Din Yah Aaye, Baar Baar Dil Yah Gaaye
Aap Jiyo Hazaaron Saal, Yeh Meri Arazu Hai
Happy Birthday To You @Sachin_rt Sir
Happy Birthday To You!#HappyBirthdaySachin pic.twitter.com/YtUOr1UsA8— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar) April 24, 2019
Behind those 100 centuries and many thousand runs stands a great human being. Nobody has ever united India like you @sachin_rt. Happy Birthday to the God of Cricket. #HappyBirthdaySachin pic.twitter.com/2zW5Ljp33U
— Rahul Chahar (@rdchahar1) April 24, 2019
Happy birthday master blaster @sachin_rt hope have a wonderful day and an amazing year ahead continue to show us the way. pic.twitter.com/HGcu9EwiAc
— Yusuf Pathan (@iamyusufpathan) April 24, 2019
Happy Birthday @sachin_rt paaji! Hope you have a healthy and rocking year ahead! pic.twitter.com/dtWEbtAQAw
— Cheteshwar Pujara (@cheteshwar1) April 24, 2019