Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar pronunciation (help·info) (Marathi: सिचन रमेश तेडुलकर;
born 24 April 1973) is an Indian cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in
the history of cricket. He is the leading run-scorer and century maker in Test and One Day
International cricket.[8][9][10] He is the only male player to score a double century in the history
of ODI cricket.[11][12] In 2002, just 12 years into his career, Wisden ranked him the second
greatest Test batsman of all time, behind Donald Bradman, and the second greatest one-day-
international (ODI) batsman of all time, behind Viv Richards.[13] In September 2007, the
Australian leg spinner Shane Warne rated Tendulkar as the greatest player he has played with
or against.[14] Tendulkar was the only player of the current generation to be included in
Bradman's Eleven.[nb 1] He is sometimes referred to as Little Master or Master Blaster.[16][17]
Tendulkar is taken as an inspiration not only by cricketers but also by different international
sports persons [18]
Tendulkar is the first player to score fifty centuries in all international cricket combined, he
now has 95 centuries in international cricket. On 17 October 2008, when he surpassed Brian
Lara's record for the most runs scored in Test Cricket, he also became the first batsman to
score 12,000, 13,000 and 14,000 runs in that form of the game,[19] having also been the third
batsman and first Indian to pass 11,000 runs in Test cricket.[20] He was also the first player to
score 10,000 runs in one-day internationals, and also the first player to cross every
subsequent 1000-run mark that has been crossed in ODI cricket history and 200 runs in a one-
day international match. In the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia,
Tendulkar surpassed Australia's Allan Border to become the player to cross the 50-run mark
the most number of times in Test cricket history, and also the second ever player to score 11
Test centuries against Australia, tying with Sir Jack Hobbs of England more than 70 years
previously.[21] Tendulkar passed 30,000 runs in international cricket on 20 November 2009,
and has been honoured with the Padma Vibhushan award, India's second highest civilian
award, and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, India's highest sporting honor. Tendulkar
became the first sportsperson and the first personality without an aviation background to be
awarded the honorary rank of Group Captain by the Indian Air Force.[22] He won the 2010 Sir
Garfield Sobers Trophy for cricketer of the year at the ICC awards.[23]
Contents
[hide]
• 1 Early years and personal life
• 2 Early domestic career
• 3 International career
o 3.1 Early career
o 3.2 Rise through the ranks
o 3.3 Captaincy
o 3.4 Injuries and apparent decline
o 3.5 Return to old form and consistency
o 3.6 2007/08 tour of Australia
o 3.7 Home series against South Africa
o 3.8 Sri Lanka Series
o 3.9 Return to form and breaking the record
o 3.10 ODI and Test Series against England
o 3.11 Sri Lanka ODIs
o 3.12 New Zealand Series
o 3.13 Compaq Cup in Sri Lanka
o 3.14 ICC Champions Trophy 2009
o 3.15 India-Australia ODI Series
o 3.16 Sri Lanka Series
o 3.17 Bangladesh Test Series
o 3.18 Series against South Africa in 2010
• 4 Indian Premier League
• 5 Style of play
• 6 Controversies
o 6.1 Mike Denness incident
o 6.2 Controversy over Ferrari customs waiver
• 7 In popular culture
o 7.1 Fan following
• 8 Business interests
o 8.1 Product and brand endorsements
• 9 Biographies
• 10 Career achievements
o 10.1 Individual honours and appreciations
• 11 See also
• 12 Notes
• 13 References
• 14 Further reading
• 15 External links
Early years and personal life
Tendulkar was born in Bombay (now Mumbai). His father, Ramesh Tendulkar, a Marathi
novelist, named Tendulkar after his favourite music director, Sachin Dev Burman.
Tendulkar's elder brother Ajit encouraged him to play cricket. Tendulkar has two other
siblings: a brother Nitin, and sister Savita.
Tendulkar attended Sharadashram Vidyamandir (High School),[2] where he began his
cricketing career under the guidance of his coach and mentor, Ramakant Achrekar. During
his school days he attended the MRF Pace Foundation to train as a fast bowler, but Australian
fast bowler Dennis Lillee, who took a world record 355 Test wickets, was unimpressed,
suggesting that Tendulkar focus on his batting instead.[24]
When he was young, Tendulkar would practice for hours on end in the nets. If he became
exhausted, Achrekar would put a one-Rupee-coin on the top of the stumps, and the bowler
who dismissed Tendulkar would get the coin. If Tendulkar passed the whole session without
getting dismissed, the coach would give him the coin. Tendulkar now considers the 13 coins
he won then as some of his most prized possessions.[25]
While at school, he developed a reputation as a child prodigy. He had become a common
conversation point in Mumbai circles, where there were suggestions already that he would
become one of the greats. His season in 1988 was extraordinary, with Tendulkar scoring a
century in every innings he played. He was involved in an unbroken 664-run partnership in a
Lord Harris Shield inter-school game in 1988 with friend and team mate Vinod Kambli, who
would also go on to represent India. The destructive pair reduced one bowler to tears and
made the rest of the opposition unwilling to continue the game. Tendulkar scored 326* in this
innings and scored over a thousand runs in the tournament.[26] This was a record partnership
in any form of cricket until 2006, when it was broken by two under-13 batsmen in a match
held at Hyderabad in India.
When he was 14, Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar gave him a pair of his own ultra light
pads. "It was the greatest source of encouragement for me," he said nearly 20 years later after
surpassing Gavaskar's world record of 34 Test centuries.[27] On 24 May 1995,[28] Sachin
Tendulkar married Anjali, a paediatrician and daughter of Gujarati industrialist Anand Mehta.
They have two children, Sara (born 12 October 1997), and Arjun (born 24 September 1999).
[29]
Tendulkar sponsors 200 underprivileged children every year through Apnalaya, a Mumbai-
based NGO associated with his mother-in-law, Annabel Mehta.[30]
Early domestic career
On 11 December 1988, aged just 15 years and 232 days, Tendulkar scored 100 not out in his
debut first-class match for Bombay against Gujarat, making him the youngest Indian to score
a century on first-class debut. He followed this by scoring a century in his first Deodhar and
Duleep Trophy.[31] He was picked by the Mumbai captain Dilip Vengsarkar after seeing him
negotiate Kapil Dev in the nets,[2] and finished the season as Bombay's highest run-scorer.[32]
[33]
He also made an unbeaten century in the Irani Trophy final,[34] and was selected for the
tour of Pakistan next year, after just one first class season.[35]
His first double century was for Mumbai while playing against the visiting Australian team at
the Brabourne Stadium in 1998.[2] He is the only player to score a century in all three of his
Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Irani Trophy debuts.[36]
In 1992, at the age of 19, Tendulkar became the first overseas born player to represent
Yorkshire[2][37] Tendulkar played 16 first-class matches for the county and scored 1070 runs at
an average of 46.52.[38]
International career
Early career
Tendulkar played his first Test match against Pakistan in Karachi in 1989 aged just 16. He
made just 15 runs, being bowled by Waqar Younis, who also made his debut in that match,
but was noted for how he handled numerous blows to his body at the hands of the Pakistani
pace attack.[39] In the final test in Sialkot, he was hit on the nose by a bouncer, but he declined
medical assistance and continued to bat even as he gushed blood from it.[40] In a 20 over
exhibition game in Peshawar, Tendulkar made 53 runs off 18 balls, including an over in
which he scored 28 runs off Abdul Qadir.[41] This was later called "one of the best innings I
have seen" by the then Indian captain Kris Srikkanth.[42] In all, he scored 215 runs at an
average of 35.83 in the Test series, and was dismissed without scoring a run in the only One
Day International he played.[43][44]
The series was followed by a tour of New Zealand in which he scored 117 runs at an average
of 29.25 in, Tests including an innings of 88 in the Second Test.[45] He was dismissed without
scoring in one the two one-day games he played, and scored 36 in the other.[46] On his next
tour, to England in 1990, he became the second youngest cricketer to score a Test century as
he made 119* at Old Trafford.[40] Wisden described his innings as "a disciplined display of
immense maturity" and also wrote:[47]
"He looked the embodiment of India's famous opener, Gavaskar, and indeed was wearing a
pair of his pads. While he displayed a full repertoire of strokes in compiling his maiden Test
hundred, most remarkable were his off-side shots from the back foot. Though only 5ft 5in
tall, he was still able to control without difficulty short deliveries from the English paceman."
Tendulkar further enhanced his development during the 1991–1992 tour of Australia, that
included an unbeaten 148 in Sydney and a century on a fast, bouncing pitch at Perth. Merv
Hughes commented to Allan Border at the time that "This little prick's going to get more runs
than you, AB."[48]
Rise through the ranks
Tendulkar waits at the bowler's end.
Tendulkar's performance through the years 1994–1999 coincided with his physical peak, in
his early twenties. On the day of the Hindu festival Holi, Tendulkar was told to open the
batting at Auckland against New Zealand in 1994.[49] He went on to make 82 runs off 49
balls. He scored his first ODI century on 9 September 1994 against Australia in Sri Lanka at
Colombo. It had taken him 79 ODIs to score a century.
In 1996 against Pakistan in Sharjah, Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin was going
through a lean patch. Tendulkar and Navjot Singh Sidhu both made centuries to set a record
partnership for the second wicket. After getting out, Tendulkar found Azharuddin in two
minds about whether he should bat. Tendulkar convinced Azharuddin to bat and Azharuddin
subsequently unleashed 29 runs in mere 10 balls. It enabled India post a score in excess of
300 runs for the first time in an ODI. India went on to win that match.
Tendulkar's rise continued when he was the leading run scorer at the 1996 Cricket World
Cup, scoring two centuries.[50] He was the only Indian batsman to perform in the infamous
semi-final against Sri Lanka. Tendulkar fell amid a batting collapse and the match referee
awarded Sri Lanka the match after the crowd began rioting and set fire to the stadium.
This was the beginning of a period at the top of the batting world, culminating in the
Australian tour of India in early 1998, with Tendulkar scoring three consecutive centuries.
These were characterized by a premeditated plan to target Australian spinners Shane Warne
and Gavin Robertson, to whom he regularly charged down the pitch to drive over the infield.
This technique worked as India beat Australia. The test match success was followed by two
scintillating knocks in Sharjah where he scored two consecutive centuries in a must-win
game and then in finals against Australia tormenting Shane Warne once again. Following the
series Warne ruefully joked that he was having nightmares about his Indian nemesis.[51] He
also had a role with the ball in that series, including a five wicket haul in an ODI. Set 310
runs to win, Australia were cruising comfortably at 3 for 203 in the 31st over when Tendulkar
turned the match for India taking wickets of Michael Bevan, Steve Waugh, Darren Lehmann,
Tom Moody and Damien Martyn for just 32 runs in 10 overs.[52]
Tendulkar single-handedly won the ICC 1998 quarterfinal at Dhaka to pave way for India's
entry into the semifinals, when he took four Australian wickets after scoring 141 runs in just
128 balls.
A chronic back problem flared up when Pakistan toured India in 1999, with India losing the
historic Test at Chepauk despite a gritty century from Tendulkar himself. The worst was yet
to come as Professor Ramesh Tendulkar, Tendulkar's father, died in the middle of the 1999
Cricket World Cup. Tendulkar flew back to India to attend the final rituals of his father,
missing the match against Zimbabwe. However, he returned with a bang to the World cup
scoring a century (unbeaten 140 off 101 balls) in his very next match against Kenya in
Bristol. He dedicated this century to his father.[53]
Captaincy
Tendulkar's two tenures as captain of the Indian cricket team were not very successful. When
Tendulkar took over as captain in 1996, it was with huge hopes and expectations. However,
by 1997 the team was performing poorly. Azharuddin was credited with saying "Nahin
jeetega! Chote ki naseeb main jeet nahin hai!",[54] which translates into: "He won't win! It's
not in the small one's destiny!".[55]
Tendulkar, succeeding Azharuddin as captain for his second term, then led India on a tour of
Australia, where the visitors were comprehensively beaten 3–0 by the newly crowned world
champions.[56] Tendulkar, however, was at his usual best and won the player of the
tournament award as well as player of the match in one of the games. After another Test
series defeat, this time by a 0–2 margin at home against South Africa, Tendulkar resigned,
and Sourav Ganguly took over as captain in 2000.
Tendulkar remains an integral part of the Indian team's strategic processes. He is often seen
in discussion with the captain, at times actively involved in building strategies. Former
captain Rahul Dravid publicly acknowledged that Tendulkar had been suggesting moves such
as the promotion of Irfan Pathan up the batting order which, although only temporary, had an
immediate effect on the team's fortunes. In 2007, Tendulkar was appointed vice-captain to
captain Rahul Dravid.[57] During the Indian team's 2007 tour of England, Dravid's desire to
resign from the captaincy became known. The BCCI President Sharad Pawar personally
offered the captaincy to Tendulkar.[57] However, Tendulkar asked Pawar not to appoint him
captain, instead recommending Mahendra Singh Dhoni to take over the reins.[57] Pawar later
revealed this conversation, crediting Tendulkar for first forwarding the name of Dhoni, who
since achieved much success as captain.[57]
Injuries and apparent decline
Tendulkar continued performing well in Test cricket in 2001 and 2002, with some pivotal
performances with both bat and ball. Tendulkar took three wickets on the final day of the
famous Kolkata Test against Australia in 2001. Tendulkar took the key wickets of Matthew
Hayden and Adam Gilchrist, centurions in the previous test.
In the 2002 series in the West Indies, Tendulkar started well, scoring 79 in the first test, and
117 in the first innings of the second. Then, in a hitherto unprecedented sequence, he scored
0, 0, 8 and 0 in the next four innings, getting out to technical "defects" and
uncharacteristically poor strokes. He returned to form in the last test scoring 41 and 86.
However, India lost the series. This might have been the beginning of the "decline" phase in
his career which lasted till 2006.
Tendulkar made 673 runs in 11 matches in the 2003 Cricket World Cup, helping India reach
the final. While Australia retained the trophy that they had won in 1999, Tendulkar was given
the Man of the Tournament award.
He continued to score heavily in ODI cricket that year, with two hundreds in a tri series
involving New Zealand and Australia.
The drawn series as India toured Australia in 2003/04 saw Tendulkar making his mark in the
last Test of the series, with 241* in Sydney, putting India in a virtually unbeatable position.
He followed up the innings with an unbeaten 60 in the second innings of the test. Prior to this
test match, he had had an unusually horrible run of form, failing in all six innings in the
preceding three tests. It was no aberration that 2003 was his worst year in test cricket, with an
average of 17.25 and just one fifty.
He scored an unbeaten 194 against Pakistan at Multan in the following series. The 194 was
controversial as he was stranded prior to reaching his double century as a result of a
declaration by Rahul Dravid. In meeting with the press that evening, Tendulkar responded to
a question on missing 200 against Pakistan by stating that he was disappointed and that the
declaration had taken him by surprise.[58] Many former cricketers commented that Dravid's
declaration was in bad taste.[59][60] The media noted at the time that the decision had
apparently been made by Sourav Ganguly,[61] and Ganguly himself later admitted that it had
been a mistake.[62] The controversy was put to rest when Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and
coach John Wright spoke to the media after the team's victory and stated that the matter was
spoken internally and put to rest.[63]
Tennis elbow then took its toll on Tendulkar, leaving him out of the side for most of the year,
coming back only for the last two tests when Australia toured India in 2004. He played a part
in India's victory in Mumbai in that series with a fast 55, though Australia took the series 2–1.
On 10 December 2005 at Feroz Shah Kotla, Tendulkar scored his record-breaking 35th Test
century, against the Sri Lankans.
In the test series in Pakistan in 2006, Sachin failed to get going in all three innings despite the
pitches being flat tracks. In the third of those three innings, he was bowled comprehensively
after making 26, and ended up on all fours. This prompted The Times of India to publish an
article entitled "Endulkar" in which TOI opined that Tendulkar's batting prowess had
declined and his career had slid permanently.
On 6 February 2006, he scored his 39th ODI hundred, in a match against Pakistan. He
followed with a run-a-ball 42 in the second one-day international against Pakistan on 11
February 2006, and then a 95 in hostile, seaming conditions on 13 February 2006 in Lahore,
which set up an Indian victory.
On 19 March 2006, after scoring an unconvincing 1 off 21 balls against England in the first
innings of the third Test in his home ground, Wankhede, Tendulkar was booed off the ground
by a section of the crowd,[64][65] the first time that he had ever faced such flak. Tendulkar was
to end the three-Test series without a single half-century to his credit, and news of a shoulder
operation raised more questions about his longevity. Tendulkar was operated upon for his
injured shoulder. In July 2006, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced
that Tendulkar had overcome his injury problem following a rehabilitation programme and
was available for selection, and he was eventually selected for the next series.
Tendulkar's comeback came in the DLF cup in Malaysia and he was the only Indian batsman
to shine. In his comeback match, against West Indies on 14 September 2006, Tendulkar
responded to his critics who believed that his career was inexorably sliding with his 40th ODI
century. Though he scored 141*, West Indies won the rain-affected match by the D/L
method.
In the preparation for the 2007 Cricket World Cup, Tendulkar was criticized by Greg
Chappell on his attitude.[66] As per the report, Chappell felt that Tendulkar would be more
useful down the order, while the latter felt that he would be better off opening the innings, the
role he had played for most of his career. Chappell also believed that Tendulkar's repeated
failures were hurting the team's chances. In a rare show of emotion, Tendulkar hit out at the
comments attributed to Chappell by pointing out that no coach has ever suggested his attitude
towards cricket is incorrect. On 7 April 2007, the Board of Control for Cricket in India issued
a notice to Tendulkar asking for an explanation for his comments made to the media.[67]
At the Cricket World Cup 2007 in the West Indies, Tendulkar and the Indian cricket team, led
by Rahul Dravid had a dismal campaign. Tendulkar, who was pushed to bat lower down the
order by the Greg Chappell had scores of 7 (Bangladesh), 57* (Bermuda) and 0 (Sri Lanka).
As a result, former Australian captain Ian Chappell, brother of the then Indian coach Greg,
called for Tendulkar to retire in his column for Mumbai's Mid Day newspaper.[68]
During this period from about 2002 to 2006–7, Tendulkar's batting often seemed to be a
shadow of its former self. He was inconsistent, and his big knocks mostly came in sedate,
accumulative, uncharacteristic fashion. He seemed to have either cut out or lost the ability to
play many shots, including the hook and pull and many other aerial strokes. He also
developed a tendency to go without scoring much for long periods and become overtly
defensive. While players such as Ponting and Kallis were at the peak of their careers, Sachin's
seemed to be in terminal decline. There were several calls from him to retire too.
However after the 2007 World Cup, his career had a second wind and his consistency and
form have returned.
Return to old form and consistency
In the subsequent series against Bangladesh, Tendulkar returned to his opening slot and was
Man of the Series. He continued by scoring two consecutive scores of over 90 in the Future
Cup against South Africa. He was the leading run scorer and was adjudged the Man of the
Series.[69]
Tendulkar celebrates upon reaching his 38th Test century against Australia in the 2nd Test at
the SCG in 2008, where he finished not out on 154
On the second day of the Nottingham Test (28 July 2007) Tendulkar became the third
cricketer to complete 11,000 Test runs.[70] In the subsequent One day series against England,
Tendulkar was the leading run scorer from India[71] with an average of 53.42. In the ODI
Series against Australia in October 2007 Tendulkar was the leading Indian run scorer with
278 runs.[72]
Tendulkar was dismissed seven times in 2007 between 90 and 100, including three times at
99, leading some to suggest that he struggles to cope with nerves in this phase of his career.
Tendulkar has got out 23 times between 90 and 100 in his international career. On 8
November 2007 he got out on 99 against Pakistan in an ODI at Mohali to the bowling of
Umar Gul caught by Kamran Akmal. In the fourth ODI, he got out on 97 (off 102 balls with
16 fours) after dragging a delivery from Umar Gul on to his stumps, falling short of another
century in ODIs in 2007.
2007/08 tour of Australia
In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, 2007–08, Tendulkar showed exceptional form, becoming the
leading run scorer with 493 runs in four Tests, despite consistently failing in the second
innings. Sachin scored 62 runs in the first innings of the first Test at the MCG in Melbourne,
but couldn't prevent a heavy 337-run win for Australia. In the controversial New Years Test
at Sydney, Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 154 as India lost the Test. This was his third
century at the SCG, earning him an average of 221.33 at the ground. In the third Test at the
WACA in Perth, Sachin was instrumental in India's first innings score of 330, scoring a well
compiled 71, as India went on to record a historic triumph at the WACA. In the fourth Test at
Adelaide, which ended in a draw, he scored 153 in the first innings, involving in a crucial 126
run stand with V.V.S. Laxman for the fifth wicket to lead India to a score of 282 for 5 from
156 for 4. He secured the Player of the Match award.
In the One-Day International Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series involving Sri Lanka and
Australia, Tendulkar became the first and only batsman to complete 16,000 runs in ODIs. He
achieved this feat against Sri Lanka on 5 February 2008 at Brisbane. He started the CB series
well notching up scores of 10, 35, 44 and 32, but could not convert the starts into bigger
scores. His form dipped a bit in the middle of the tournament, but Tendulkar came back
strongly in India's must-win game against Sri Lanka at Hobart, scoring 63 off 54 balls. He
finished the series with a match winning 117 not out off 120 balls in the first final,[73] and 91
runs in the second final.[74]
Home series against South Africa
In the first test of a three-test series against South Africa at home, Tendulkar made a duck in
the first innings. He missed the rest of the series, which was drawn 1–1, with an injury.
Sri Lanka Series
Before the three-Test series in Sri Lanka in mid-2008, Tendulkar needed just 177 runs to go
past Brian Lara's record of 11,953 runs in test cricket. However, he failed in all six innings,
scoring a total of just 95 runs. India lost 1–2.
Return to form and breaking the record
In the following ODI series against Sri Lanka, Tendulkar was sidelined due to injury.
However, during the following Australia tour of India, he returned to fitness and form,
scoring 13 and 49 in the first test before making 88 in the first innings of the second test, thus
breaking the record for most number of Test runs held by Brian Lara. He also reached the
12,000 run mark when he was on 61. He made a fifty in the third test and 109 in the fourth, as
India won the series 2–0 and regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
ODI and Test Series against England
Tendulkar was again out due to injury from the first three ODIs of a 7-match ODI series at
home against England, but he made 11 in the fourth ODI and 50 in the fifth, before the ODI
series was called off due to the Mumbai terror attacks, the scoreline being 5–0 to India.
England returned for a 2-match test series in December 2008, and in the first test in Chennai,
chasing 387 for victory, Tendulkar made 103 not out in a 163-run unbroken fifth wicket stand
with Yuvraj Singh. This was his third century in a fourth match innings, and the first which
resulted in a win. This was redemption for the Chennai Test of 1999 when chasing 271
against Pakistan, Sachin had made 136 with severe back pain and was out 17 runs short of the
target, precipitating a collapse and a loss by 12 runs. He dedicated this century to the victims
of the Mumbai terror attacks. Tendulkar failed in both innings in the second test, India won
the series 1–0.
Sri Lanka ODIs
In early 2009, India revisited Sri Lanka for five ODIs, as the Pakistan series had been
cancelled due to the security situation in Pakistan and the attacks in Mumbai. In the first three
ODIs, Sachin made 5, 6 and 7. Then he was injured again.
New Zealand Series
India's next assignment was the away series against New Zealand. It consisted of three Tests
and five ODIs. In the ODI series, Tendulkar started off with 20 in the first match followed by
61 in the second. Then he made a 163 not out in the third ODI, an innings ended by stomach
cramps that forced him to retire hurt. India made 392 and won easily. Sachin was out of the
next two ODIs due to injury but India won the series 3–1 with one game washed out.
Tendulkar made 160 in the first test, his 42nd Test century, and India won. He made 49 and
64 in the second test and 62 and 9 in the third, in which India were prevented from winning
by rain on the last day. India won the series 1–0.
Compaq Cup in Sri Lanka
Tendulkar rested himself for the ODI tour of West Indies, but was back for the Compaq Cup
(Tri Series) between India, SL and New Zealand in early September 2009. He made 46 and
27 in the league matches before notching up 138 in the final, as India made 319 and won by
46 runs. This was Tendulkar's 6th century in ODI finals and his third consecutive score of
over 50 in such finals. India has won all six times that Tendulkar has made a hundred in an
ODI final.
ICC Champions Trophy 2009
Tendulkar played just one innings in the ICC Champions trophy in South Africa, scoring 8
against Pakistan as India lost. The next match against Australia was washed out and he was
out with food poisoning in the third match against the Windies, as India were eliminated after
beating the Windies and finishing third in their group.
India-Australia ODI Series
Australia returned for a seven-match ODI series in India in October, and Tendulkar made 14,
4, 32 and 40 in the first four games.
In the fifth match, with the series tied at 2–2, Australia amassed 350/4 in 50 overs. Tendulkar
made his 45th ODI hundred, a 175 off just 141 balls. Just when it seemed that he would steer
India to the large victory target, he paddle-scooped debutant bowler Clint McKay straight to
short fine leg, with India needing 19 from 18 balls with four wickets left. The Indian tail
collapsed, and they lost by 3 runs, being all out for 347.
During this match, Tendulkar also became the first player to reach 17,000 ODI runs, and
achieved his personal best against Australia, as well as the third highest score in a defeat. He
described it as one of his best innings but said it could have been better had India won the
match.
Sri Lanka Series
In the ODIs against Sri Lanka in 2009–10, Tendulkar scored 69, 43, 96 not out and 8, as India
won 3–1.
In the Test Series, he scored a 100 no out in the first test, which was drawn, and a fifty in the
second. India won the series 2–0.
Bangladesh Test Series
Sachin rested himself for the ODI tri series in Bangladesh in 2010. In the Tests against
Bangladesh, he made 105 not out and 16 in the first test, and 143 in the second. India won 2–
0.
Series against South Africa in 2010
In the 2-Test Series against South Africa, Tendulkar made seven and 100 in the first test and
106 in the first innings of the second test. In the course of the second 100 (his 47th Test
Hundred) he achieved several landmarks, in that he had scored four hundreds in his last four
matches and that the hundred against South Africa in the first Test was the first at home
against South Africa. The century was also his hundredth score over 50 in International Test
cricket, moving him to 92 international hundreds (Tests and ODIs combined). In the
subsequent ODI series, Tendulkar was run out in the first ODI for four runs, but made a
strong comeback in the second match, scoring a brisk hundred off just 90 balls. This also took
his tally of hundreds to 46 in ODIs and 93 in tests and ODIs combined. He finished the match
on 200*, thus becoming the first batsman in the history of ODI cricket to score a double
century, eclipsing Saeed Anwar's 194 against India and Charles Coventry's 194* versus
Bangladesh.[75][76]
Indian Premier League
Tendulkar was made the icon player and captain for his home side, the Mumbai Indians in the
inaugural Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition in 2008.[77] As an icon player, he was
signed for a sum of US$1,121,250, 15% more than the second-highest paid player in the
team, Sanath Jayasuriya.[78]
In 2010 edition of Indian Premier League, Mumbai Indians reached the final of the
tournament. Tendulkar made 618 runs in 14 innings during the tournament, breaking Shaun
Marsh's record of most runs in an IPL season. He was declared player of the tournament for
his performance during the season. He also won Best Batsman and Best Captain awards at
2010 IPL Awards ceremony.
Style of play
Tendulkar plays a wristy leg-side flick
Tendulkar is cross-dominant: He bats, bowls and throws with his right hand, but writes with
his left hand.[79] He also practices left-handed throws at the nets on a regular basis. Cricinfo
columnist Sambit Bal has described him as the "most wholesome batsman of his time".[2] His
batting is based on complete balance and poise while limiting unnecessary movements and
flourishes. He appears to show little preference for the slow and low wickets which are
typical in India, and has scored many centuries on the hard, bouncy pitches in South Africa
and
