Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, commonly known by the name of The Little Master or The Master Blaster, is an Indian professional cricketer and the greatest batsmen in the history of the game. He is a right-handed all-rounder.

Tendulkar attended Sharadashram Vidyamandir High School in Mumbai where he began his cricketing career under the guidance of his coach and mentor, Ramakant Achrekar. At 13, Tendulkar was the best player in the Mumbai schools competition for Under 19s. At 14, Tendulkar made his first-class debut for the Mumbai cricket team and scored a century on debut. He made his international test debut in 1989 against Pakistan in Karachi at age 16. He scored his first international century at just 17.

In the domestic career, in the debut matches of Irani Trophy, Duleep Trophy as well as Ranji Trophy Tendulkar is the singular player to have scored a century. When he was 19 he represented Yorkshire and became the first overseas born player to do so. Tendulkar has scored 1070 runs in 16 first class matches for Yorkshire at an average of 46.52.

In 1989 under the captaincy of Kris Srikkanth Tendulkar debuted in Test cricket in Karachi against Pakistan. In his first match he made only 15 runs and was bowled out by Waqar Younis. However the way he managed several blows of the Pakistan pace attack to the body was impressive and his commitment level towards the side and the country showed when he refrained to walk of the field after being hit on the nose by a rising ball. At Faisalabad a few days later he scored his first Test half century. On 18 December he debuted in One day International cricket but was dismissed by Waqar Younis for no score.

Further with few international game experiences Tendulkar developed into a world-class batsman. On the tour of Australia in 1991-92 while playing at Sydney he scored 148 not out while at Perth he scored another hundred on a bouncy and fast track. At this time Allan Border was told by Merv Hughes that “This little prick’s going to get more runs than you, AB.”

In the 1996 Cricket World Cup Tendulkar topped the batting averages, scored two centuries and was the leading run score. Sachin was not only good with the bat but also with the ball. We have seen Tendulkar bowling Googly, Off-break, Leg-break and the Medium paced In-Swingers and Out-swingers. In the World-Cup match against Australia he led the team by taking 5 wickets that of Damien Martyn, Tom Moody, Darren Lehmann, Steve Waugh and Michael Bevan in 10 overs by conceding 32 runs.