Who Is Known As God Of Cricket

Sachin Tendulkar is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time. He had a prolific career spanning over 20 years during which he set numerous batting records and achieved unprecedented success. Due to his unparalleled batting skills and mass popularity, he is fondly called the “God of Cricket” by his fans around the world.

During his stellar international career between 1989-2013, Sachin played 200 Tests and 463 ODIs for India. He scored a monumental 34,357 international runs across formats and notched up 100 centuries, a feat that no other cricketer has managed to achieve. His batting records are astounding - most runs and centuries in both Tests and ODIs, most number of 150+ scores and man of the match/series awards. Through his batting genius, consistency and longevity at the highest level, Sachin Tendulkar became the biggest batting icon cricket has known.

Peak Career Period

Between 1990 to 2010, Tendulkar was at the peak of his prowess. This 20-year period saw some of his greatest innings in Test and ODI cricket. He was the mainstay of Indian batting during this time, shouldering the expectations of more than a billion fans. Some of his best knocks came against top teams like Australia, South Africa, Pakistan and England, proving his mettle against the toughest bowlers of his era. During this golden phase, Tendulkar achieved many milestones and broke a flurry of long-standing individual records.

Legacy

Sachin Tendulkar’s monumental achievements and contribution to Indian cricket make him a legendary figure who transcended the sport itself. He was not just a master batsman, but also a consummate professional admired for his humility despite immense fame and success. His 24-year international career saw India emerge from mediocrity to become a dominant force in world cricket. For this reason, Sachin Tendulkar remains an inspiration and hero to countless Indians even after his retirement. Widely respected across cricketing nations, the God of Cricket enjoys a stature unmatched by any player before or since his time.

ICC in cricket stands for the International Cricket Council. It’s the global governing body for cricket, responsible for the organization and governance of cricket’s major international tournaments, including the Cricket World Cup. The ICC also determines the rules of cricket and works to promote and develop the game around the world.

Sachin’s Early Cricket Career

Early Life and Background

Sachin Tendulkar was born on April 24, 1973 in Mumbai, India to a middle-class family. From a young age, he displayed great skill and passion for cricket. He was coached under the guidance of renowned coach Ramakant Achrekar at the Kamat Memorial Cricket Club during his school days.

Debut for India at Age 16

Sachin’s prodigious talent was evident very early on. He made his international test debut for India in 1989 against arch rivals Pakistan when he was only 16 years old. This made him the youngest player to represent India at the time. He had already become the youngest Indian to play first-class cricket at just 15 for Mumbai in 1988.

The test match was played in Karachi in November 1989. Sachin opened the batting for India and scored 15 runs off 24 balls before being dismissed by Waqar Younis. Although he made a nervous start to his international career, Sachin showed glimpses of his talent in the two test matches in the series.

Emerging Batting Talent

Over the next year, Sachin established himself as India’s premier young batting talent. In the 1990 New Zealand series at home, he scored two back-to-back test centuries at the age of 17. He became the youngest player to score a test hundred for India, surpassing the previous record of Gundappa Viswanath.

Sachin was solidifying his reputation as one of India’s most promising young cricketers. His technique against pace and spin bowling was excellent. He also had great powers of concentration for long innings.

Selected for the 1992 World Cup

Based on his early success in international cricket, Sachin was picked in India’s squad for the 1992 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. At the age of 19, he was one of the youngest members of the team.

Sachin had a decent World Cup scoring 283 runs in 8 matches at an average of 35. His highest score was 54 against Australia. Though India did not advance past the round-robin stage, Sachin’s performances showed his ability to succeed at the highest level.

In his formative years from 1988 to 1992, Sachin Tendulkar emerged as an exceptionally talented batsman for India. His international debut at 16 surprised the cricketing world with his precocious ability. With numerous cricket records still to come, Sachin’s early career marked the beginning of his journey to becoming a legendary cricketing icon. His mastery of batting made him one of the most complete batsmen of his era and all time.

Sachin’s Illustrious International Cricket Career

Most runs (15,921) and centuries (51) in Test cricket

Sachin Tendulkar is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket. He holds numerous records in Test cricket, including scoring the most runs and centuries by any player.

In a Test career spanning 24 years from 1989 to 2013, Sachin scored 15,921 runs with 51 hundreds, both of which remain unsurpassed records. He averaged over 50 in Test cricket, demonstrating his consistency and mastery of batting in the longest format.

Sachin made his Test debut at the age of 16 against Pakistan in 1989. His first Test century came in 1990 against England when he was 17 years old. This showed his precocious talent and ability to score big hundreds at a very young age.

Over the years, Sachin notched up 51 Test centuries, including 10 double hundreds. He scored centuries against all Test playing nations. Some of his most memorable tons came in challenging overseas conditions like in Australia, South Africa and England against formidable bowling attacks.

Sachin had a phenomenal record of scoring centuries in both innings of a Test match on three occasions. He also holds the record for the most 150+ scores and is the only player to score four consecutive Test centuries on two occasions.

By the time he retired in 2013, Sachin had firmly established himself as the leading run-scorer in Tests with a mammoth aggregate of 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78. His 51 centuries and 68 fifties were records that highlighted his phenomenal consistency across 24 years at the highest level.

First batsman to score 100 international centuries across formats

One of Sachin Tendulkar’s most remarkable achievements is being the first player to score 100 international centuries. He scored 100 centuries across Tests and ODIs, a feat that underlines his unprecedented success across formats.

Sachin scored his 100th international century in 2012 during the Asia Cup in a One Day International against Bangladesh. By getting to the magical three-figure mark, he became the only player in history to score hundred international hundreds.

This achievement bears testimony to Sachin’s incredible longevity, consistency and adaptability. To score 100 centuries across two formats over a period of 22 years is a remarkable feat that is unparalleled in cricket.

While 51 of his centuries came in Tests, 49 came in ODIs. Sachin scored his first ODI century in 1994 and his first Test ton in 1990. He continued to score centuries regularly in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s - a period that spanned over two decades.

Scoring centuries required immense levels of concentration, skill and fitness. To sustain his hunger and motivation to get to three figures for nearly a quarter of a century highlighted Sachin’s champion mindset.

Even in his late 30s, he displayed the same passion and precision to reach the 100-run mark. His last ODI century came at the age of 37 against South Africa.

Reaching the 100-century milestone was a testament to Sachin’s insatiable appetite for runs and impeccable consistency. It is an unthinkable record that will likely remain unbroken for generations. Sachin’s 100 international centuries symbolized his longevity of excellence across formats and his undisputed status as one of cricket’s greatest ever batsmen.

Holds numerous records in ODI cricket - most runs, centuries, Man of the Match/Series awards

When it comes to ODI cricket, Sachin Tendulkar owns almost every major batting record in the book. He is the highest run-scorer in ODI history and also has the most centuries, half-centuries and man of the match/series awards.

In 463 ODIs spanning over 22 years, Sachin amassed 18,426 runs with 49 centuries and 96 fifties. He remains the only player to have scored over 15,000 runs in ODIs and his aggregate of 18,426 runs is over 4000 runs more than the second highest scorer.

Sachin’s average of 44.83 and strike rate of 86.23 underline his remarkable ability to score quickly yet consistently in the 50-over format. He scored runs against all oppositions and in all conditions.

One of his key strengths was adaptability and constantly reinventing his batting according to match situations. He could both accelerate aggressively and play a patient innings piling up runs.

Having played ODI cricket from 1989 to 2012, Sachin is the only player to have scored runs in three separate decades. He holds the record for the highest individual ODI score by an Indian (200 not out). He also has the most Man of the Match and Man of the Series awards in ODI history.

Sachin’s phenomenal feats in ODI cricket included scoring over 1000 runs in ODIs in a calendar year on seven occasions. He contributed significantly in many of India’s famous ODI victories and played pivotal roles in winning major tournaments like the World Cup and Champions Trophy.

By setting numerous benchmarks in ODI batting, Sachin cemented his reputation as arguably the greatest ODI batsman of the modern era and remains a legend of the game.

Only player to score 100 international centuries

By scoring 100 international centuries (51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs), Sachin Tendulkar accomplished a feat that remains unmatched in cricket’s history. He is the only player to have scored 100 hundreds across Tests and ODIs.

This extraordinary achievement is a testament to Sachin’s incredible consistency, longevity at the highest level and ability to excel in different formats over two decades.

To score 100 international centuries, Sachin had to master his technique and concentration to perfection. He displayed a champion mindset to continuously motivate himself and perform for 24 years while dealing with the pressures of expectations and fame.

Each century required intense focus, skill and physical fitness. Sachin managed to repeat his century-scoring prowess with remarkable regularity despite evolving his game through various eras and against different bowling attacks.

His 100th century involved an emotional wait as Sachin took a year to get to the milestone after scoring his 99th ton. He finally achieved the historic mark in 2012 during the Asia Cup against Bangladesh much to the jubilation of the entire cricketing world.

What makes Sachin’s 100-century record even more staggering is that the next highest century-scorers (Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis) have only 71 international centuries between them. The gap of 29 centuries highlights just how colossal Sachin’s feat was.

This unprecedented milestone drove home Sachin’s insatiable appetite for runs and his unquenchable thirst for excellence. Cricket fans globally feel privileged to have witnessed a batting genius score 100 international centuries - a Herculean achievement that may never be repeated again.

Played in 6 World Cups from 1992 to 2011

Sachin Tendulkar’s international career was so long that he earned the distinction of appearing in 6 World Cups from 1992 to 2011, a record for any cricketer. He was part of India’s squads for every World Cup tournament played over two decades.

Sachin made his World Cup debut in 1992 as a promising 18-year old emerging player. He was India’s leading scorer in his maiden World Cup. In the 1996 World Cup too, Sachin excelled scoring 523 runs as India reached the semi-finals.

The next four World Cups saw Sachin play key knocks and be India’s batting mainstay. In the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, he scored 673 runs in just 11 matches at a phenomenal average of 61, highlighting his status as one of the world’s premier ODI batsmen.

Though India did not win titles in Sachin’s first four World Cups, he realized his dream in 2011 when India won the World Cup on home soil. Sachin’s contributions throughout the tournament proved invaluable, especially the key fifty in the final.

Playing in 6 World Cups from his teens through to his late 30s testified Sachin’s fitness, determination and ability to succeed across generations. The longevity of his World Cup career underlined how he successfully adapted to evolving conditions and demands over 19 years.

For Sachin to remain so relevant and prolific, from 1992 to 2011 demonstrated remarkable consistency and class at the pinnacle of the sport. His World Cup credentials enhanced his reputation as an all-time great of the game.

Sachin’s IPL Career

Integral part of Mumbai Indians franchise from inception of IPL in 2008

Sachin Tendulkar was an integral part of the Mumbai Indians franchise right from the inception of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008. He was icon player and captain for Mumbai Indians in the first season and contributed with 404 runs in 14 matches.

Even though Mumbai Indians finished 5th in the points table in the first season, Sachin’s experience and leadership played a key role in helping the franchise find its feet in the inaugural season of IPL. He built the foundation on which future Mumbai Indians teams went on to become the most successful franchise in IPL history.

In the 2009 season, Sachin stepped down from captaincy to focus more on his batting. He scored 364 runs in 13 matches at an average of 30.33 with one fifty. Mumbai Indians finished 7th in 2009 but Sachin continued to be an influential player in the team’s journey.

Scored 2,334 runs in 78 matches with 1 century

Over the 12 seasons from 2008 to 2019, Sachin Tendulkar represented Mumbai Indians in 78 matches. He scored 2,334 runs at an average of 34.83 with one century and 13 half centuries.

His only IPL century came in 2011 against Kochi Tuskers Kerala. He scored 100* off 66 balls to guide Mumbai Indians to 182/2, a total which proved to be a match-winning one.

Some of his other memorable IPL innings for Mumbai Indians came in the 2011 final where he scored 53 vs Chennai Super Kings, and in the 2012 playoffs where he scored 55* vs Chennai to help Mumbai reach the final.

Apart from his batting, Sachin also provided guidance and mentorship to youngsters like Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard and Jasprit Bumrah who went on to become match-winners for Mumbai.

Helped Mumbai Indians win multiple IPL titles

While Sachin retired from IPL cricket in 2013, the foundation and dressing room culture he helped build strongly contributed to Mumbai Indians becoming the most successful team in IPL history.

Under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, Mumbai Indians went on to win IPL titles in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. Many of the match-winners in these title-winning squads were groomed and mentored by Sachin in the initial MI teams.

So while Sachin did not get to lift an IPL trophy during his playing career, his invaluable contributions as a batsman, leader and mentor in the initial MI teams paved the path for the franchise’s later success. Sachin remains an integral part of the Mumbai Indians family.

Legacy and Impact

Inspired generations of cricketers in India and worldwide

Sachin Tendulkar inspired generations of cricketers in India and worldwide with his incredible career achievements and longevity in the sport of cricket. Nicknamed the “Little Master”, Tendulkar made his international debut for India at the age of 16 and went on to have a 24-year career, retiring in 2013 at the age of 40.

Throughout his career, Tendulkar broke numerous batting records, including scoring the most runs and centuries in both Test and ODI cricket. He was the first batsman to score a double century in ODIs. With his prolific run-scoring across all formats, Tendulkar set new benchmarks for batting excellence.

His discipline, concentration, and dedication to perfecting his technique served as an inspiration for aspiring cricketers everywhere. Young players in India grew up idolizing Tendulkar and were motivated to emulate his work ethic and longevity. His success paved the way for future Indian batting stars.

Regarded as the greatest batsman of all time by peers and experts

Sachin Tendulkar is widely regarded as the greatest batsman of all time by his peers, experts, and fans. He has received high praise from legendary cricketers across eras.

Brian Lara considers him the best batsman he has ever seen. Sir Donald Bradman, regarded as the greatest batsman ever, once said that Tendulkar’s style of play reminded him of his own.

Experts frequently rank him as the best batsman ever, ahead of icons like Bradman, Viv Richards, Ricky Ponting and Brian Lara. His phenomenal records, adaptability across formats and conditions, razor-sharp focus and flawless technique places him at the peak of batting mastery.

Awarded Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor in recognition of his contributions to cricket

In recognition of his monumental achievements in international cricket and his status as a national icon in India, Sachin Tendulkar was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2014, India’s highest civilian honor.

He became the youngest person and the first sportsperson to receive the Bharat Ratna. This underscored his invaluable contributions in transforming cricket into a revered sport in cricket-obsessed India.

Through his excellence on the field and his inspirational career, Tendulkar helped unify a diverse nation and became a role model for youth. The Bharat Ratna honor cemented his legacy as the greatest Indian cricketer and one of the most iconic sports persons in history.

His achievements and consistency led to the sobriquet “God of Cricket”

Sachin Tendulkar’s superhuman achievements and consistency led to him being revered as the “God of Cricket” by fans worldwide. He was an unmatched batting genius who dominated bowling attacks for over two decades.

Some staggering stats - 34,357 international runs, 100 centuries, 200 Tests, 463 ODIs played. He scored runs against all opponents and in all conditions with machine-like efficiency.

His larger-than-life persona, humility and integrity added to his unmatched popularity. The “God of Cricket” sobriquet encapsulates the sheer awe and admiration Sachin Tendulkar evokes among cricket lovers globally as the greatest batsman ever and a legend beyond compare.

Conclusion

Sachin Tendulkar’s career cemented his legacy as the greatest batsman of the modern era and arguably of all time. His monumental achievements like scoring 100 international centuries, most runs and tons in Tests and ODIs are unmatched feats that may never be repeated. Tendulkar displayed astonishing consistency, longevity and perfection of his batting craft for over two decades. His colossal records across formats and impeccable technique made him the benchmark for batting excellence. Revered as the God of Cricket in India, Tendulkar became a unifying national icon who inspired generations of cricketers worldwide. The sheer volume of runs he scored against all opponents and in all conditions is staggering proof of his genius. Very few athletes have dominated their sport as comprehensively as Tendulkar did cricket. His numerous records, adaptable style of play, and grace on and off the field, distinguished him as a once-in-a-lifetime cricketing legend whose legacy will endure eternally.

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