Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is to Indian cricket what Don Bradman was to Australian cricket. A holder of almost most of the major batting records - most centuries Test, most one-day centuries, most runs in one-day cricket - Sachin has been the face of Indian cricket for most part of his career. Wisden rated Tendulkar as the second greatest Test batsman ever after Sir Don Bradman in 2002. Tendulkar also won the Wisden Cricketer of the Year award in 1997. He was felicitated with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award for the year 1997-1998, and the civilian award Padma Shri in 1999.
Born was born in a middle-class family in Mumbai (then Bombay) in 1973, Sachin was and named after his father`s all-time favourite music director [Sachin Dev Burman]. Sachin`s schooling took place at Sharadashram Vidyamandir School where he came in contact with coach Ramakant Achrekar and now his great buddy Vinod Kambli. The duo of Sachin and Kambli put on a marathon partnership of 664 runs in a Harris Shield game - a record than has not been broken till date. Sachin also holds the distinction of having scored a century on debut in the major domestic tournaments - Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Irani Trophy.
He made his debut for India against Pakistan at the raw age of 16 in 1989 but found international cricket too hot too handle at the start. He struggled against Wasim Akram, Imran Khan, Abdul Qadir, and another debutant Waqar Younis, who eventually dismissed him for 15. But with a 50 in a Test some days later Tendulkar, he proved that he could succeed at the big stage as well.
Like his Test debut, his ODI debut too was an unsuccessful as he fell for a duck to the same bowler who got him out on his Test debut. But the series to follow against saw his missing a landmark by a diminutive margin. He was batting on 88 in the Napier Test and looked on course to become the youngest Test centurion ever when he became catch-out by John Wright. Sachin cried inconsolably as he made that long walk back to the pavilion. But he did not have to wait too long for that first Test ton. Sachin got it on India`s disastrous tour to England in 1990. However, it is innings in Perth (`91-92) - considered as the bounciest track in world, which many rate as Sachin best knock ever. With the ball flying all round, Sachin stood firm on the crease and ended up with a magnificent ton.
Sachin had to wait agonizingly long for his first ODI century - 79 matches to be precise. But once he broke the barrier against Australia in 1994, there was no stopping for him. A versatile bowler, Sachin often chips in with his off spin, leg spin or pacers and has a safe pair of hands in the field.
