Master Blaster turns 52: A grand salute to Sachin Tendulkar on his birthday | Cricket News
Mumbai: Former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar speaks during the unveiling of the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) Season 2 trophy at its auction ceremony, in Mumbai. (PTI Photo) ( 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 SymphonyFrom 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-WinnerNo 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 FormHere are just a handful of mind-blowing stats from his career:200 Tests, 463 ODIs34,357 International runs100 International centuries (51 in Tests, 49 in ODIs)164 Fifties, 76 times crossing 90Highest Score: 248 in Tests, 200 in ODIs201 Man of the Match awards, 62 Man of the Series awardsOver 4,000 boundaries, 264 sixes201 wickets as a part-time bowler256 catches, and numerous match-winning partnershipsFrom Richards to Kohli – The Tendulkar TimelineSachin 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 AccoladesTendulkar’s excellence has been recognized far and wide:Bharat Ratna – India’s highest civilian awardPadma Vibhushan, Padma Shri, Arjuna Award, Khel RatnaWisden Leading Cricketer, ICC Cricketer of the YearOrder of Australia, Honorary IAF Group CaptainInducted into both the ICC Hall of Fame and the Guinness World RecordsGet the latest IPL 2025 updates on Times of India, including match schedules, team squads, points table and IPL live score for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Don’t miss the list of players in the race for IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple cap.
