21st Century Greats: Sachin Tendulkar

How the diminutive Indian batsman became the most successful run scorer of all time.

Over the course of the year, I will be posting biographies of 25 modern sporting greats to celebrate being a quarter way through the 21st Century. As usual, these posts will combine a summary of some of their sporting achievements mixed with my own memories of watching them. There is no order to the list, just a celebration of fantastic sportspeople.

21st Century Greats: Sachin Tendulkar

The sun beat down on the Melbourne Cricket Ground while I watched expectantly from the stands as a diminutive figure walked purposefully towards the wicket in the centre of the field. India had been struggling to reply to a fantastic opening innings from the host Australian team but if anyone could turn the tide it was this man, the Little Master, Sachin Tendulkar.

Over the next 24 overs I watched engrossed as the man who was virtually a god in his home country put on a one man show, hitting 62 from just 77 balls (including 7 fours and a six) before eventually being bowled by Stuart Clark. He may not have scored one of his trademark centuries that day but Tendulkar certainly showed what he was capable of against a team that, to that point, had been victorious in their previous 14 test matches. Even the home fans gave him a decent ovation as he walked back off.

This was to be the first of four wonderful first innings showings during the four match series during that Australian summer over the New Year of 2007/8 where, despite losing the first two tests, India really tested the fantastic Aussie team and managed a win and a draw in the final two tests. As was common on Australian soil (during a previous visit in 2004 he had scored 241 in an innings in Sydney), Tendulkar was the standout for the visitors, hitting over 150 in two separate innings to drive his team forward, and as I was without work during my stay in Melbourne at the time, I was able to watch virtually every ball. I cannot say that I watched all of Tendulkar’s matches for India, but throughout that particular series, I was certainly convinced of his prowess.

During his career, Sachin Tendulkar would hit 100 centuries (51 in test matches and 49 in ODI’s) which is the best ever by a distance, the closest to him being compatriot Virat Kohli (who was a close challenger to Tendulkar to make this list) on 81 and unlikely to seriously challenge in what is left of his playing time. Helped by these centuries, Tendulkar also holds the records for most ever test match runs scored (15,941) and ODI runs scored (18,426). Of those currently playing, only England’s Joe Root is within 3,000 runs of Tendulkar’s test total and only Kohli is within 5,000 runs of the ODI total. His prowess as a batsman really is unquestionable.

Debuting for India in 1989, Tendulkar’s career obviously spans for longer than the time period in question, but his continued dominance is what cements his place on this list. With so many incredible moments in his career, it is difficult to pick out just a few, but ones that stick for me personally are a resolute 103 not out scored in the first test against England in Chennai in 2008 to help India chase down a record score, and a 175 against Australia in Hyderabad in an ODI in 2009 when chasing 351. Unfortunately for him, his teammates couldn’t match his efforts and India lost by just 3 runs, but the statement made and effort given was still incredibly impressive.

Perhaps the most memorable moment for Tendulkar himself though was finally securing the World Cup for India in 2011 in a home tournament that was co-hosted with Sri Lanka (who India beat in the final) and Bangladesh. Tendulkar had put in some wonderful performances in previous World Cups, including in 2003 when scoring 673 runs which at the time was a record in a single tournament, and particularly in 2007, being voted player of the tournament despite losing to Australia in the final, but he had never guided his nation to win it.

In 2011, India started strongly by beating co-hosts Bangladesh (although Tendulkar only scored 28) but a sterner test was to come in their next match against England. Tendulkar was back to his imperious best putting on 120 (his fifth World Cup century) which helped India to a total of 338. Unfortunately, England’s Andrew Strauss then scored 158 runs himself but India held on for the draw in a thrilling match.

India went on to beat Ireland and the Netherlands fairly easily although Tendulkar didn’t post any massive numbers. In the next match against South Africa though, he was back at his best, scoring 111. However, as had sometimes been the case on previous occasions, his teammates didn’t score as well (barring Virender Sehwag and Gautan Gambhir) and the last 8 wickets went for just 29 runs for a total of 296 which their opponents then went on to beat with 2 balls remaining.

Tendulkar’s countrymen did redeem themselves in their final group match though as they handily beat the West Indies, despite the Master Blaster (another nickname) only scoring 2 runs himself. This led to India finishing second in their group and set up a meeting with old rivals Australia in the quarter finals. India restricted the Australians to just 260 and then Tendulkar and Gambhir steadied the ship by both scoring half centuries after an early Sehwag dismissal to gain the victory with two and a half overs to spare.

In the semi-finals it was to be the biggest of all cricket matches, India against Pakistan. The Pakistanis were originally meant to be another co-host of the World Cup, but this status had been rescinded on safety grounds due to terrorist attacks in Lahore in 2009. This added just a little more fuel to the fire of a clash that was always seen as must win for both nations. On this occasion, in one of his most important moments, Tendulkar was the driving force again, smashing 85 from 115 balls, including 11 fours, to help India to a total of 260 that was not brilliant but certainly defendable. And defend they did, with Pakistan eventually being bowled out for 231 with a ball to spare.

After beating two great rivals, the Indians will have been very confident moving into the final against Sri Lanka and in the end won quite comfortably, reaching their target with more than an over and 6 wickets to spare. Tendulkar wasn’t at his best that day but his part had already been played in providing many runs that propelled his team forwards. The victory was a triumphant team moment to sit alongside all of his individual achievements.

In a country where cricket is so popular that it is basically a religion in itself, as mentioned before, Sachin Tendulkar was viewed almost as a deity and his popularity was unmatched. This did however lead to some difficulties for the man as he struggled to live a normal lifestyle in his home nation due to being mobbed if spotted out in public.

His was a voice to be listened to and by the time of his retirement in 2013, he had already been nominated as a member of parliament in India, a post he maintained until 2018. Although he wasn’t the most active politician (his attendance at parliament was very poor), he did donate his entire salary to good causes.

Throughout his career he was offered many lucrative sponsorship deals and since retiring has been involved in other businesses such as owning restaurants as well as football and badminton teams. He is also a UNICEF ambassador and has been involved during a number of well-being campaigns.

Tendulkar’s legacy will stand alongside his records showing that he can rightly be considered perhaps the greatest batsman of all time. Some of his records may never be beaten, although Joe Root is perhaps in with a shout of reaching his test runs total, but even if they are the greatness of the man can still not be disputed. The Little Master was a joy to watch and his contribution to the sport and massive appeal certainly warrant him a place on this list.

Notable achievements:

Most runs ever in both Test (15,941) and ODI (18,426) cricket

Most player of the match awards (76)

Most centuries (100)

Most fifties (264)

Most fours in a career (2058 test and 2016 ODI)

Most Test matches played (200)

World Cup winner (2011)

Scored a century against every Test playing nation

MP in India