Happy Birthday, Sachin Tendulkar - The Little Master.

Sachin has inspired many people worldwide with his batting

On his 47th birthday, I’ll be sharing 47 interesting pointers which includes stories, anecdotes and trivia on Sachin

Stay tuned

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1. Sachin Tendulkar was named after music director Sachin Dev Burman. As a child, Sachin was quite mischievous & once fell down from a mango tree. That's when his elder brother Ajit took Sachin to Achrekar Sir at Shivaji Park. Sachin was nervous & didn't play well initially

2. Achrekar sir advised Sachin to change his school to Shardashram Vidyamandir. Young Sachin would practice a lot & when he got tired, Achrekar sir kept one-rupee coin on the top of the stumps. If Sachin remained unbeaten he would get the coin. Sachin still treasures those coins

3. In the 1987-88 Harris Shield, Sachin scored 125, 207* (QF), 326* (SF) & 346* (Final). In the 5 games,he scored 1025 runs & was a sensation in Mumbai. After his knock of 326* in the SF, Sachin went to the adjacent pitch & scored 178* in another game.Had immense run-hunger at 14

4. On February 24, 1988, Sachin & Vinod Kambli recorded 664-run partnership in the SF of the 1987-88 Harris Shield.. This was the then World Record. Kambli scored 349* & Sachin scored 326*. This knock proved to be a turning point in Sachin's life. At 15, he batted in India nets

5. At 14, Sachin attended MRF Pace Foundation trials but didn’t impress Dennis Lillee with his bowling. Sachin did bat in the academy against some good bowlers.
In 1987 in an exhibition match to mark 50 yrs of the CCI, Sachin actually fielded for Pakistan side as a substitute.

6. In 1988, Sachin faced Kapil Dev for the first time in the India nets and looked comfortable. Soon Sachin, who was 15, was picked for Mumbai Ranji Team. He scored a century on Ranji Trophy debut against Gujarat at the Wankhede Stadium
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7. In his 1st season for Mumbai, Sachin scored 583 runs in 7 games with 6 50s & 1 ton. He was the top run-getter for Mumbai.

Sachin was ignored for the WI tour. Selectors wanted to spare him from WI pacers. Sachin was disappointed & said: 'If I'm hit, I'll only learn faster."

8. Sachin was picked for the Rest of India v Delhi in the Irani Cup. In the 2nd innings when the 9th wkt fell, Sachin was on 89*. Raj Singh Dungarpur (Chairman of Selectors) asked injured Gursharan Singh to bat. Sachin completed a ton. At 16, he was selected in the Indian team

9. Aged 16 years 205 days, Tendulkar became India's youngest debutant. He made his Test debut in Karachi.

Sachin was out for 15 bowled by another debutant Waqar Younis.

Sachin thought this would be his last Test. But his best was yet to come.

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10. In the 2nd Test, Sachin scored his maiden Test fifty in Faisalabad. In the 4th Test in Sialkot, Sachin was hit on the nose by a Waqar delivery.
Sachin stayed on & hit the next ball for a four. He scored 57 in Sialkot.
Scored a 0 on ODI debut & was dropped for next 2 ODIs

11. Sachin was part of India's team that toured NZ in 1990. In the 2nd Test at Napier, Sachin was unbeaten on 80 at the end of Day 3. He was 20 away from being the youngest Test centurion. On Day 4, Sachin hit 2 fours & the was caught at mid-off by Wright off Morrison.

12. Aged 17 years 112 days, Sachin Tendulkar scored his maiden Test century against England at Old Trafford in 1990.

India managed to save that Test match.

Sachin was awarded Player of the Match - his first in international cricket

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13. Sachin won his first Player of the Match Award in ODIs - in 1990 v SL in Pune.
Sachin picked 2 wickets & scored 53 (41).
His first ODI wicket came in this match - Roshan Mahanama
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14. Scored 148* v Australia at the SCG in 1992 - thus becoming the youngest player to score a Test ton in Australia. Scored 114 at the bouncy pitch in Perth - a pitch where rest of the Indian batting struggled
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15. In 1992, Sachin Tendulkar became the first overseas signing for Yorkshire. In 16 FC games, Sachin scored 1070 runs.
Sachin was a replacement for Craig McDermott - who the club had signed initially. Since McDermott had a groin injury he backed out
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16. In the year 1992, Sachin played his first WC. He scored 3 fifties - v Pakistan, Zimbabwe & NZ.

India toured SA from Nov-Jan (4 Tests & 7 ODIs)

At Durban, Sachin became the 1st batsman to be given out by the 3rd umpire.

Sachin scored a fine 111 in the Johannesburg Test

17. In 1993, Sachin scored his maiden international century in India - 165 v England at Chennai.

This was Sachin's fifth Test ton & he was just 19!

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18. In the 1993 Hero Cup SF, Sachin bowled the final over (which was his 1st in the match) & defended 6 runs. India went on to win the final - Sachin took the crucial wicket of Brian Lara.

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19. In 1994, Sachin opens for the first time in ODIs. This was v NZ at Auckland. He scored 82 off 49 balls & won the Player of the Match award. His next four scores as an opener - 63, 43, 63 & 73. The one-off move in Auckland paid rich dividends & Sachin became a regular opener.

20. In his 79th ODI, Sachin finally scores his maiden century. It was against Aus at Colombo (RPS).
Sachin then registers hat-trick of ducks & a score of 8.
He then scores his 2nd ODI ton: 115 v NZ at Vadodara. Then 105 v WI at Jaipur. Was one of the best ODI openers in 1994

21. In the 1994/95 Ranji Trophy season, Sachin scored 856 runs in 5 matches which included 5 tons & one fifty. Scored hundreds in each innings in the final v Punjab (140 & 139).
His best score was 175 (141) [22 fours & 8 sixes] v Baroda at the RCF Ground, Mumbai

22. Sachin Tendulkar Scored 523 runs in WC 1996 (highest run scorer) including tons v Kenya (127*),SL (137).Scored 90 v Aus,70 v WI, 65 v SL. Had no bat sponsor. Got approached by 2 sponsors midway into the WC. But Sachin refused (felt it would distract him)
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23. In 1995, WorldTel signed a multi-million dollar deal with Sachin Tendulkar. Sachin—the brand became quite popular. Mark Mascarenhas changed the life of the Little Master. In 2001, Sachin struck a 100-cr deal with WorldTel
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24. Sachin scores quality tons v England at Edgbaston & Trent Bridge in 1996. India lose the Test series & ODI series. Sachin was vice captain for 2 seasons. The selection committee felt Azharuddin wasn’t upto the mark.
So at 23, Sachin Tendulkar was ready to take the captaincy

25. At 23 years 126 days, Sachin became India's youngest ODI captain. Under Sachin's captaincy India won the inaugural Border-Gavaskar Trophy and then went on to win the Titan Cup. But India lost in SA, WI (failed to chase 120 in Barbados) & Asia Cup. Azhar became capt. in 1998