There are two kinds of batsman in the world. one is Sachin Tendulkar. Two, All the others.

No matter the national game is Hockey, but the love for cricket is immense and undying. Not only people of India watch cricket but they love cricket. Cricket is a religion for the people of India and Sachin is their God. Sachin Tendulkar can unquestionably be called the “face of modern cricket”. He is the world’s leading run scorer in both test (14692) and ODI (18,111). Among many laurels he had won- the most prominent ones are: Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian award, and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India’s highest sporting Honour. Tendulkar describe “2010” as among the best ever in his cricketing career. In Feburary 2010, he became the first batsman to break the 200-run barrier in the one-day cricket. In 2011, Sachin finally achieved his dream of winning the Cricket World Cup which was held in Mumbai.

10. During the 1987 World Cup, Sachin was a ball boy for the match between India and Zimbabwe at the Wankhede Stadium.

He was 14 then.

Sachin and Vinod were called as ball boys for the match because of their exploits in inter-school cricket. Kelkar who was then in charge of john Bright Cricket Club took permission, an took the boys for the match.
“Sachin was thrilled when he entered the stadium. It was as if he had been given everything in life,” said Kelkar, who was in charge of the ball boys then.

9. Sachin Tendulkar was named after the great musician Sachin Dev Burman.

Sachin’s father Ramesh Tendulkar, was a big fan of Sachin Dev Burman’s music, and kept sachin’s name on his name.

8. Sachin Tendulkar fielded for Pakistan as a substitute during a one-day practice match against India at the Brabourne Stadium in 1988.

India’s pride and joy, Sachin Tendulkar, had in fact stepped on to the international arena for the first time as a reserve fielder for a Pakistan XI! I doubt if there can be a better example of what could be possible, if we were to propagate good relations between two neighbours who love peace and share the same passions, but are unfortunately kept away from each other by rabid politics and hateful propaganda.

7. Sachin Tendulkar is India’s first active cricketer to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha.

Tendulkar became India’s first active sportsperson to become a Member of Parliament in June 2012. Tendulkar was sworn in on June 4, 2012. Like several of his cricket records, he had set another ‘first’ by becoming India’s first active sportsperson to be sworn in as a Member of Parliament.

6. Tendulkar refused to do a Pepsi ad

Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar refused to do a Pepsi advertisement because it required him to smash cricket balls with a fly swatter. He told ad-film maker Prahlad Kakkar that this will project him as bigger than the game of cricket. The ad was modified and stumps replaced the fly swatter.

5. Sachin Tendulkar was a huge fan of John McEnroe, a former tennis legend. He grew his hair and tied a band around it to copy his idol.

Sachin Tendulkar was a greatest fan of John McEnroe and copied his hairstyle. He also used to play tennis. The young Sachin pleaded his parents to get a similar headband and wristbands like McEnroe.

4. Sachin Tendulkar was without a bat contract until the start of the 1996 Cricket World Cup. At the end of the tournament, a famous tyre manufacturer sponsored his willow.

Sachin’s bats are English willow, with a thick profile, massive edges which he likes, and he also likes his bats to be heavily arced. Sachin Tendulkar uses a very heavy bat at the crease, weighing 3.2lbs. Only South Africa’s Lance Klusener used a heavier bat in world cricket.

Well the runs keep coming and the Little Master keeps scoring both on the pitch as well as in the hearts of his faithful followers who are more like worshipers. The blade is thick and heavy, and the one who holds it and swings it around is not just human.

3. The first advertisement in which Sachin featured was for a sticking plaster.

Sachin Tendulkar was most fascinated by band-aids. A hint of a wound and he would plaster it all over the injury.

2. Sachin Tendulkar used to sleep with his cricket gear during his junior days.

1. Sachin’s debut Test was Kapil Dev’s 100th.

On the very day Tendulkar made his debut, three athletes had kicked golden dust at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the Asian track and field championships. 

Beneath the helmet, under that unruly curly hair, inside the cranium, there is something we don’t know, something beyond scientific measure. Something that allows him to soar, to roam a territory of sport that, forget us, even those who are gifted enough to play alongside him cannot even fathom. When he goes out to bat, people switch on their television sets and switch off their lives 

 others.”