Sachin Tendulkar (born 1973)

Sachin Tendulkar is widely regarded as one

of the greatest cricketers of all time. Born on April 24, 1973, in Mumbai, India, Tendulkar made his debut for the Indian cricket team at the age of 16 and went on to have a legendary career that spanned over two decades.

Tendulkar's career began in 1989 when he made his debut in a Test match against Pakistan at the age of 16. Despite his youth, he showed remarkable talent and was soon making headlines with his performances. In his second Test match, he scored his first century, becoming the youngest player ever to achieve this feat. He went on to become a regular member of the Indian team and quickly became the country's most popular sportsman.

Over the next few years, Tendulkar established himself as one of the world's leading batsmen. He was known for his impeccable technique and his ability to score runs in any conditions. He had a wide range of strokes and was equally comfortable against pace and spin bowling. He was also an excellent fielder, with a safe pair of hands and a powerful arm.

Tendulkar's breakthrough year came in 1990 when he scored his first Test double century against New Zealand. This was followed by a string of impressive performances, including a century against England at Old Trafford and a double century against Australia in Sydney. In 1994, he became the youngest player to reach 5,000 Test runs, and in 1998, he scored his 16th Test century, breaking the record for the most centuries by an Indian batsman.

Throughout his career, Tendulkar was a consistent performer in all formats of the game. He was equally at home in Test cricket, where he scored 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78, and in One Day Internationals (ODIs), where he amassed 18,426 runs at an average of 44.83. He also scored 100 international centuries, a feat that no other batsman has achieved.

Tendulkar's finest hour came in 2011 when he helped India win the World Cup for the first time since 1983. He was the team's leading run-scorer in the tournament, scoring two centuries and four half-centuries, including a crucial 85 in the final against Sri Lanka. His performance in the tournament earned him the Player of the Tournament award, and he was widely hailed as the architect of India's victory.

Tendulkar's career was not without its ups and downs. He went through a prolonged lean patch in the early 2000s, during which he struggled to score runs and faced criticism from the media and fans. However, he bounced back in style in 2003, scoring a record-breaking 673 runs in the World Cup and leading India to the final. He also went through a series of injuries and health issues, which forced him to take breaks from the game and miss several important matches.

Despite these setbacks, Tendulkar remained one of the most popular and respected cricketers in the world. He was known for his humility and his dedication to the sport, and he was a role model for millions of cricket fans around the world. He was also a shrewd businessman and was involved in several commercial ventures, including a chain of restaurants and a clothing line.

In 2013, Tendulkar announced his retirement from cricket after a career that had spanned over 24 years. His last Test match was against the West Indies in Mumbai, where he was given a hero's farewell by the fans and the cricketing fraternity. In his final innings, he scored an emotional half-century.