Shouldering a billion dreams, and more: 48 years of Sachin Tendulkar

Generational sports personalities are probably the most loved and respected by fans all over the world irrespective of allegiances. These players transcend the lines of rivalries and occupy a special place in everyone’s hearts. In football, there is Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. In tennis, there is Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. The gentleman’s game, had arguably the greatest batter the world has ever seen; India’s biggest ever sports star, Sachin Tendulkar. On his 48th birthday, almost eight years after his retirement from international cricket, the little master still remains in the hearts of billions around the globe and is still a celebrated superstar of the sport. 

Despite retiring from the sport, Tendulkar has never really been out of cricket entirely. He has played a few tournaments here and there, most recently in the Road Safety World Series held in Raipur in 2021.

He has also actively involved in the development of the sport, especially for women. Tendulkar was UNICEF’s Cricket For Good ambassador at the 2017 Women’s World Cup. He did his part to promote the participation of women at the highest sporting level.

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The little master has grown into something more than just an ex-cricketer after his retirement.

He has become an ambassador for the game, a philanthropist, and a  true gentleman of the gentleman’s game. He has played the game a few timeless after announcing his retirement where he played for the greater good.

Most notably, he played in a charity tournament called the Bushfire Bash, which was played to raise money to assist all those who had suffered from the terrifying Australian bushfires that had happened in 2020.

The tournament was a mixed-gender competition where Sachin played with some of the world’s best female cricketers and inspired thousands to take up the sport. 

THE MASTER’S CAREER

Tendulkar’s birthday would be incomplete if one does not discuss his absolutely ridiculous stats over the course of his career.

He has played 329 test innings in which he has scored an incredible 15,921 runs at an average of 53.79. His highest test score is 248. The little master’s numbers in one-day internationals are even more ridiculous.

In 452 innings, Tendulkar has scored 18,426 runs at an average of 44.83, and has a highest score of 200. Over the course of his international career, he has scored exactly 100 international centuries. 

Sachin Tendulkar has won almost every single thing that he might have dreamt of winning over in his illustrious career.

He suffered heartbreak in 2003 when India came this close to winning the World Cup that year, only to be defeated in the final by an Australian side, which is considered to be one of the greatest cricketing teams of all time.

The 2007 World Cup brought with it, even more disappointment, as India showcased a terribly dismal performance. However, the wait was worth it.

The over-a-decade long wait to win cricket’s greatest prize bore fruition as MS Dhoni smashed the ball out of the park to win India the 2011 cricket World Cup in Sachin’s hometown, Mumbai. 

Legacy

The world might not see a cricketer like Sachin Tendulkar in the future. A reason for that may be that the game has changed exponentially since he played his final innings in 2013.

The little master, however, is probably the only man in the history of Indian sports whose shoulders have carried the hopes, dreams, and expectations of over a billion people.

And not once did he even seem like buckling under that immense pressure.

His part in the development and growth of the gentleman’s game, not just in India, but globally, has been astronomical and one can rest assured that he will be involved in further working for the sport’s development in the future.