Did you know this about Sachin Tendulkar?
The man has represented India for 23 years at the highest level of the game. Here are a few interesting facts about the Master Blaster.
Sachin Tendulkar is one of the greatest players to have played the game of cricket. He retired from one-day cricket today with 18426 runs in 463 matches. But there is more to the master batsman. Here are some interesting facts about Tendulkar.
- Tendulkar wanted to be a fast bowler but was rejected by Australian great Dennis Lillee at the MRF Pace Academy at Chennai in 1987.
- Was a ballboy during the 1987 World Cup on the Indian subcontinent.
- Scored 326 in a 664-run partnership with former India player VinDennod Kambli during an inter-school game in 1988.
- He is the youngest Indian to play English county cricket, at 19, and was also Yorkshire's first overseas professional in 1992.
- Scored tons on debut in all three major domestic first-class competitions: Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup.
- His favorite sports star is not a cricketer but a tennis player, John McEnroe.
- Batted in his debut test at Karachi wearing pads presented by India's legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar.
- Used a very heavy bat throughout his career - usually around 1.5 kilograms (3.2-3.3 pounds).
- Scored five test centuries before the age of 20.
- His best year in ODIs was 1998 - nine centuries for 1,894 runs in that year.
- Became a Member of Parliament in 2012 when he was nominated to India's higher house of Parliament - the Rajya Sabha.