Revision as of 12:17, 12 October 2013

Photographs, including those credited to AFP are from the archives of The Times of India

Sachin Tendulkar: As a 5-year-old

15-year-old Sachin cuts an image of poise and confidence at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium ahead of his debut in Pakistan in November 1989

Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara

Sachin Tendulkar: South African President Nelson Mandela is introduced to Mohammad Azharudin by Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar during the lunch break on the third day of the Second Test between South Africa and India at Newlands, 4 January, 1997. (AFP Photo)

Sachin Tendulkar: Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar lifts the Sahara Cup after after winning the series against Pakistan in Toronto, Canada on September 21, 1997.

Sachin Tendulkar: Sachin Tendulkar shakes hands with Shane Warne after guiding India to victory against Australia in Sharjah on April 24, 1998, his 25th birthday. (AFP Photo)

Sachin Tendulkar: Sachin Tendulkar stands next to a replica of a gold medallion which was launched on March 26, 1999 to commemorate the World Cup in England.

Sachin Tendulkar: Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar lifts the Pepsi Challange trophy November 2, 1999 after winning the series against New Zealand at the Sardar Patel stadium in Ahmedabad. (AFP Photo)

Sachin Tendulkar: Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar acknowledges the applause after scoring a century against Australia on the third day of the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 28, 1999. (AFP Photo)

Sachin Tendulkar: Sachin Tendulkar acknowledges the crowd after scoring a double century on the second day of the second Test against Zimbabwe on November 26, 2000 in Nagpur. (AFP Photo)

Teams of 1989 and 2013 respectively

Meeting the Don on his 90th birthday in Adelaide after being specially flown in on Bradman’s request

Sources

The Making Of A Master The Times of India

IANS | Oct 10, 2013 The Times of India

Sachin's 20 glorious years The Times of India

Thank you for the memories, Master by Ehtesham Hasan and K Shriniwas Rao The Times of India

Timeline

Timeline of Sachin Tendulkar's cricketing achievements

Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar made his Test debut in Karachi against Pakistan at the age of 16.

A timeline of Sachin Tendulkar's 24-year-old illustrious career:

1988

Feb 23-25, 1988: Tendulkar (14) and Vinod Kambli (16) compile a 664-run unbroken partnership for Shardashram Vidya Mandir against St Xavier's at Azad Maidan, Mumbai. Kambli remains unbeaten on 349 not out and Tendulkar scores 326 not out. It remains the highest partnership recorded in any form of cricket, until in November 2006.

Dec 11, 1988: Makes first-class debut at the age of 15 and scores an unbeaten century against Gujarat at the Wankhede Stadium. Becomes Youngest Indian to make a hundred on first-class debut.

1988: Shardashram Vidyamandir

Skipping fielding to score a ton

Sudheendra Tripathi | TNN

The Times of India 2013/10/12

Mumbai: Everyone knows Ramakant Achrekar, coach at Shardashram Vidyamandir, was angry at Sahin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli for ignoring declaration calls during their historic Harris Shield quarterfinal stand against St Xavier’s High School. Few, though, know the reason why.

Shardashram were also scheduled to play a Giles Shield quarterfinal tie the next day (Feb 25, 1988) against a well-balanced Anjuman-e-Islam side. Shardashram should have beaten St Xavier’s on Feb 24 so that Tendulkar would be available to play the Giles Shield quarterfinal the following day. But the duo batted for that extra day and jeopardised Tendulkar’s participation in the quarters.

So, on the day when the ‘boy wonder’ was supposed to be fielding against St Xavier’s at the Sassanian Club, Azad Maidan, he was taking guard against Anjuman at Parsee Cyclist, a hundred yards away.

Tendulkar, who had scored a triple hundred against Xavier’s and had added a then- world record 664 with Kambli, scored 172 against Anjuman.

He was also involved in a 280-run partnership with Amol Muzumdar, who scored a hundred. “We were all wondering why Tendulkar didn’t take the field,” recalled Manish Walawalkar, Xavier’s fast bowler. “We realized only later that Sachin had gone on to score another century against a different opposition. We were all kids then and were amazed at how a boy, who was as old as us, could score a triple hundred and slam another big hundred the next day.

“Sachin had become the talking point, not only in our school, but across the maidans.”

1989

Sachin was picked by Mumbai captain Dilip Vengsarkar after seeing him negotiate Kapil Dev in the nets and was selected for the tour of Pakistan next year.

Nov 15, 1989: Makes his Test debut in Karachi against Pakistan at the age of 16. Makes 15 on debut.

Dec 14, 1989: Suffers a bloody nose in the last Test in Sialkot after being hit by Waqar Younis. Makes 57 in the innings.

BOY WONDER (1989)

Stories about his phenomenal talent and ability to play the best of strokes even before he turned 15 had already reached every cricket lover in the country, thanks to Mumbai's cricketing grapevine. So when he showed the typical teenage bravado while carting Pakistan leg-spinners Abdul Qadir and Mushtaq Ahmed in a 20-over friendly one-dayer in Peshawar and showed amazing power for a young boy while lofting the cricket ball, the world finally saw why Sachin Tendulkar was the most talked about 16-year-old in the world. While Peshawar saw the aggressive side of Tendulkar, the Test series saw his defensive side. His fifties in Faisalabad and Sialkot on greenish tracks were illustrative of his grit and temperament. That greatness was going to descend on him became obvious after he scored his maiden Test century in Old Trafford, Manchester, in what was a match-saving effort on a difficult fifth-day pitch.

1990

August 14, 1990: At the age of 17 years and 112 days, becomes the then second-youngest to score a Test century. He scores 119 not out against England at Old Trafford which helped India to get a draw.

Sachin Tendulkar made his maiden Test century, an unbeaten 119, against England at Old Trafford in 1990. He was the second youngest cricketer to do so at the age of 17 years 112 days.

1990: vs Sri Lanka at Chandigarh

When Chandigarh flocked to watch his home debut

Alkesh Sharma | TNN

The Times of India 2013/10/12

Chandigarh: Twenty-three years ago, the quaint Sector-16 ground in Chandigarh, with a ring of low, uncovered stands and a distant view of Kasauli hills, became the launchpad for a great cricketing career. It was here that Sachin Tendulkar, then 17, played his first international match on Indian soil. Before this match, he had played 10 Tests and seven One-dayers, all of them away from home, in England, New Zealand and Pakistan.

Tendulkar, who announced his retirement on Thursday, was all of 17 and had not yet opened the innings for India when he played his first home Test here. Incidentally, in his 11th Test, he also scored 11 runs in the first innings against Sri Lanka. India went on to win by an innings and eight runs. The Test was part of a one-match series against Sri Lanka from Nov 23-27, 1990.

Though local boy Kapil Dev was the fan favourite, there was already huge support for Sachin. “All the spectators were mad for Kapil but I still remember the continuous shouting of ‘buck-up Sachin’ from the stands when he was at the crease. My college group was also among these fans. Sachin’s technique was very sound and he batted for over 90 minutes,” said Sanjay, a resident of Sector 47 here who was a Class-12 student then.

People even bought tickets in black to watch Sachin. In 1990, the sector-16 stadium had a capacity of more than 5000 spectators, and black marketing of tickets too hit a peak.Everyone wanted a ticket for the match, by hook or by crook.

1992

April, 1992: Signs up for Yorkshire and becomes the first overseas signing for the English county.

Nov 27-28, 1992: Becomes the youngest player to score 1000 Test runs at the age of 19 years and 217 days after he scores 111 in India's 227 in Johannesburg.

CHARMING THE DON (1992)

Perhaps it was the first time the world saw what a punch off the back foot meant. On the bouncy pitches of Australia, he looked completely at ease and stroked wonderful centuries in Sydney and Perth. The time he got to play his strokes was the talk of the world. Seldom has an 18-year-old batted with such authority in alien conditions and that tour was the start of Tendulkar's love affair with the Australian bowling and pitches.

1992: 114 at Perth

Cracker at Waca: Sachin’s journey from boy to man

Anand Sachar, Hindustan Times October 11, 2013

One innings that will stand the test of time is his sublime 114 he crafted in the 1992 Perth Test, that announced his arrival on the big stage.

After making his Test debut in Pakistan at the tender age of 16, a little more than two years later, Tendulkar went on to his first tour to Australia. The then 19-year-old had scored a memorable maiden hundred in Manchester, England but Australia was considered more hostile.

Tendulkar’s hundred in Sydney notwithstanding, not many gave him a chance to succeed on the fastest pitch in the world at the WACA. The four consecutive losses the team had suffered prior to the game could not have helped matters.

But Tendulkar defied the fiery Australian pace attack and was the only batsman in the team to cross fifty on his way to a defining 114. While Mike Whitney was busy ripping apart the Indian batting line-up, Tendulkar offered resistance at the other end.

Tendulkar, too, fell too Whitney but only after the little man had negotiated the extra pace and extra bounce with a gutsy century.

He was able pick up the bounce and pace of the wicket in such a short time, which proved that he was always going to be a special player for the future.

Around a decade later, Whitney had to say this: “He came with a bit of a reputation, being so young. To have him among my wickets, I’m pretty happy about it.”

For former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar, who was Tendulkar’s teammate in that Test match, the century scored against the odds lists amongst the greatest ever. “The hundred he scored that day is one of the finest century in Test cricket ever,” recalls Vengsarkar to HT. “Against a strong attack and a pitch like the one at Perth, it was outstanding for someone of his age.”

Kiran More, who was at the crease with Tendulkar on February 3, 1992 when he scaled the three-figure mark, remembers the look of bemusement on the Australians face during the course of the innings.

“There were questions about how a boy with his height and Australian wickets would do, but he went on to play one of the best knocks,” More tells HT.

1993

Feb 11-12, 1993: Gets his first Test century (165) at home against England.

Nov 24, 1993: The world saw the first glimpse of Tendulkar as a match-winning bowler. Bowls India to sensational last-ball win against South Africa in the Hero Cup semi-final. South Africa needing six runs to win off the last over, Tendulkar gave them just three, and India a victory.

HERO CUP SEMIFINAL 1993

Kolkata’s historic venue the Eden Gardens was packed to the rafters. South Africa needed six runs off the last over. Captain Mohammad Azharuddin didn’t know whom to throw the bowl to even as coach Ajit Wadekar dispatched the 12th man with water and a message “bowl Kapil.” The great all-rounder however was a bit reluctant given that there was hardly anything to defend. That is when Tendulkar did the impossible. He grabbed the ball from Azhar and pulled the choke on South Africa.

1994

March 27, 1994: Opens the innings for the first time in an ODI against the New Zealand. Scores 82 off 49 balls.

ONE-DAY SUPERSTAR (1994)

While he was a reasonably successful player in ODIs, he didn't quite get the big scores regularly as a result of batting too low in the line-up. An injury to Navjot Sidhu just before the second ODI in Auckland meant that Tendulkar went out to open and his 82 in 49 balls started another chapter. The field restrictions and his ability to clear the ball with ease, thanks to his incredible power and ability to pick up length early, meant that Tendulkar's address in the batting lineup in ODIs had permanently changed. The one stroke that regularly comes to mind is the pick up shot over mid-wicket where he cleared his front leg and used his wrists to send the ball to the fence.

1995

October 1995: Becomes the richest cricketer in the world after he signs up a five-year contract worth Rs.31.5 crore with WorldTel.

1996

Feb-March, 1996: Plays his first World Cup at home and scores 523 runs at an average 87.16 and becomes the highest scorer.

Aug 8, 1996: Becomes the Indian captain at the age of 23.

PRESSURES OF CAPTAINCY (1996-1997)

After being named captain, he felt the pressure of carrying the team on his shoulders and cut out some of the strokes from his game. The strokes that went away were the lofted inside out shot over extra cover which he played regularly against the left-arm-spinners. He seldom stepped out to the spinners and that is why he often was perturbed by the left-arm-over spin angle.

1997

OPERATION DESERT STORM: 1997-98

India stood to qualify for the final against Australia in the Coca Cola Cup Triseries in Sharjah only if they bettered New Zealand’s run-rate. The target was reduced from 285 in 50 overs to 276 in 46 because of a sand storm. India, though, needed 237 — even in case of a defeat — to oust the Kiwis. In walked Tendulkar, to play an innings that is now etched in the memories forever. Smashing nine fours and five sixes, Tendulkar belted 143 off 131 balls to singlehandedly steer India through. In the final, he belted another hundred.

1998

Jan 2, 1998: Sacked from captaincy after a 15-month stint during which India won just three of 17 Tests.

Feb-March, 1998: In the best of his form against Australia in a home Test series and also gets his maiden double hundred. He also scored two hundreds and a fifty in the three-Test series that India won 2-1.

GLORIOUS YEAR (1998)

The moment the captaincy was taken away from him, he got the freedom to play all the strokes again. Out came the lofted stroke, the slog sweep from the rough against Shane Warne, the lofted stroke over the bowler's head which he played almost entirely with the top hand. It was his most productive year in cricket. The free approach saw him slam four Test hundreds and nine ODI tons, earning him praise even from the great Don Bradman.

WARNE-BASHING 1998

The series was build as Tendulkar vs Warne and it lived up to the hype with the master blaster taking on the legendary legspinner who was in his pomp. Tendulkar, known for his attention to detail, trained hard for the series asking former India leg-spinner and L Shivaramakrishnan and Sairaj Bahutule to bowl in the rough outside the leg-stump. As it turned out, in the first match of the tour against Mumbai, Tendulkar hit a double hundred - his first-ever in first class cricket - and in the process sent Warne to the cleaners. It set the tone for the series.

1999

July 28, 1999: Gets back his captaincy after Mohammad Azharuddin is sacked for India's failure to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in England.

MILESTONES & HEARTBREAKS (1999-2007)

The most tumultuous phase of his career was also, in parts, the most enervating. A heartbreaking 136, played with an injured back against Pakistan in Chennai in a Test which India lost by 13 runs, was followed by another unremarkable stint as captain before he finally found himself part of a team with the talent and gumption to take on stronger opposition. As India blossomed under Sourav Ganguly, Sachin became the first player to score 10,000 runs in ODIs, sizzled in the 2003 World Cup only to see India lose in the final, overcame a career-threatening tennis elbow injury and scored a gritty 241* in Sydney in 2003-04. Also had a shoulder operation in 2006.

2001

March 20, 2001: Scores a thrilling century in the deciding Test in Chennai and denies Australia the "final frontier".

March 31, 2001: Becomes the first payer to score 10,000 runs in ODIs en route to his 139 against Australia in Indore.

Nov 19, 2001: Fined by match referee Mike Denness for ball tampering. The decision was later overturned after an outcry by the Indian cricket board.

2002

Aug 22-23, 2002: Surpassed Don Bradman's tally of 29 Test centuries. Misses double-century by seven at Headingley, but India win by an innings and 46 runs.

2003

February-March, 2003: Scores 673 runs at 61.18 in the World Cup and also takes India to sniffing distance of winning the crown. His 98 against Pakistan was one of the best knocks played by Indians at World Cup. Australia are the champions, but Tendulkar is named the Man of the Series.

Aug, 2003: Is presented with a Ferrari 360 Modena for going past Bradman's 29 Test centuries.

AGAINST PAK, WC 2003

In an electrifying atmosphere at the Centurion, Tendulkar left the Pakistanis shellshocked with an innings which he rates as one of his best. Pakistan had a lethal bowling attack in Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar and they had their tails up after their batsmen rattled up 274. Tendulkar braved cramps to score 98 off 75 deliveries. The upper cut off Akhtar that sailed over point, is still remembered.

2004

Jan 2-4, 2004: Scores 241 in Sydney, one of his best, even as Australia manage to hold on for a draw, and the series ends 1-1.

Aug, 2004: Suffers from tennis elbow during the Videocon Cup in Holland. Misses the Champions Trophy in England, and then the first two home Tests against Australia.

SYDNEY SHOW

Tendulkar calls the Sydney Cricket Ground a home away from home. His effort of 241 in 2004 was a lesson in self-restraint. He didn’t score a boundary on the off side, didn’t hit a cover drive. He waited for the ball to come to him, picked it off and clipped it to midwicket all the way not just to three figures, but a double hundred. In 2008 Tendulkar had forgotten how an international hundred tastes like after getting out seven times in the 90s. His undefeated innings of 154 had driven India ahead in the Test but for umpires Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson.

2004: 241 at Sydney Cricket Ground

Sachin's 241 at SCG was his best innings, says Brian Lara

PTI hindustantimes

New Delhi, October 02, 2013

Brian Lara recalled Sachin Tendulkar's masterpiece at the Sydney Cricket Ground even as the Indian walked back to the time the Trinidadian would have the best of bowlers at his mercy.

It was a sight any cricket fan would die for as the two masters of modern-day cricket stood together for a few moments, literally leaving the the crowd at the Kotla in a state of ecstasy.

"I remember the series against Australia when Sachin didn't play a single cover drive till the time he reached the double century," Lara said when he was asked about one Tendulkar moment he just couldn't forget.

Tendulkar went on to score 241 as the Test, which was Steve Waugh's last, ended in a tame draw at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground a little over a decade ago.

"Sachin was always different... the Indian team had many great batsmen like (Rahul) Dravid and (VVS) Laxman," the 44-year-old Trinidadian who still holds the record for the highest score in Test and first-class cricket said, amid huge cheers from the packed stadium.

Tendulkar was not left behind as he too, recalled the days when Lara would literally toy with the opposition bowling, saying they (opposition) would be left thinking which was the best place to land the ball while bowling to the left-handed batsman.

The two greats met just before the Champions League Twenty20 match between Chennai Super Kings and Trinidad and Tobago.

Lara also had a word of praise for young Sanju Samson, who has been a revelation of sorts for the Rajasthan Royals in the Champions League Twenty20.

The West Indian legend made no bones about the fact that Twenty20 is not a format he would have fancied.

"I don't think I would have been too successful in T20 cricket as I was a batsman who needed time to settle down. I believe guys like Sachin, Ricky (Ponting) were suited to this format."

All in all, after the barrage of fours and sixes they witness from the blades of Rohit Sharma and Dwayne Smith, the coming together of the two legends on the same platform meant the Delhi crowd couldn't have asked for more.

2005

March 16, 2005: Scores 52 against Pakistan and becomes the fifth man to score 10,000 Test runs.

May, 2005: Goes for the surgery for the tennis elbow.

Dec 10, 2005: Becomes the highest centurion in Test cricket as he overtakes Sunil Gavaskar's 34 en route to his 109 against Sri Lanka in Delhi.

2006

March 19, 2006: Is booed at the Wankhede Stadium after he was dismissed for duck in 33 minutes against England in Mumbai.

March, 2006: Again goes under the knife. This time for surgery on his right shoulder in England.

2007

May, 2007: For the first time in his career, Tendulkar is rested for the three-ODI series in Bangladesh.

2008

Jan 4, 2008: Scores an unbeaten 154, against a major Test playing nation in two years and 19 Tests, against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

March 2, 2008: Sachin scores his first ODI century in Australia, in first of the CB Series final.

Oct 17, 2008: Surpasses Brian Lara's record of most Test runs against Australia at Mohali.

CONSISTENCY PERSONIFIED (2008-2012)

Refashioned himself into a less flamboyant but hugely consistent run-machine following India's disastrous 2007 World Cup sojourn and the exit of coach Greg Chappell. Scored an unbeaten, masterful 154 in Sydney, his first century in more than two years and 19 Tests against opposition other Bangladesh. Followed it up by his first ODI century in Australia in the CB Series before breaking Brian Lara's record of most Test runs in Mohali, all in 2008. Scored the first ODI double century in 2010 before realizing his dream of being part of a World Cup-winning squad in 2011.

CHENNAI WIN POST 26/11

After losing to India badly in the ODIS, England flew back home because of the November 26 terrorist attacks in Mumbai in 2008. They returned to play the Test series later in December, only to lose the Chennai Test to Tendulkar’s clinical fourth-innings ton at Chepauk. Chasing 386 for victory, India were three down for 183 when Tendulkar walked in. A short 41-run stand with VVS Laxman, followed by a massive 162-run partnership with Yuvraj Singh for the fifth wicket gave India a six-wicket win.

2009

Nov 5, 2009: Gets to 17,000 runs during his 175 off 141 balls in a 351-run chase against Australia in Hyderabad. India fell short by 19 runs.

2010

Feb 24, 2010: Becomes the first player in the history of the game to score 200 in a single innings in a one-day international. He took 147 deliveries to power India to 401 and a 153-run win against South Africa.

Oct 2010: Tendulkar bags his first ICC award, the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy.

Dec 19, 2010: Gets his 50th Test hundred against a difficult South African attack in Centurion.

2011

April 2, 2011: Realises his childhood dream of winning the World Cup that too at his home town of Mumbai and at the Wankhede. India beat Sri Lanka to win the World Cup for the second time.

2012

March 16, 2012: Gets the 100th international century, scoring 114 in an Asia Cup match against Bangladesh in Mirpur. But India lost the match. The century came after 34 innings and more than a year after scoring his 99th international hundred.

Dec 23, 2012: Just minutes before the selectors were set to name the squad for the ODI series against Pakistan, Tendulkar announces his retirement from the format. Tendulkar finished with 18,426 ODI runs and 49 hundreds, well clear of any other batsman.

2013

Oct 10, 2013: Tendulkar announces his retirement from Test cricket.