Master with a Career unshadowed

* While in school, Sachin was often mistaken for a girl, courtesy his long curls.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Boy or Girl"][/caption]

The tag of being the world's best batsman is huge, and while there have been rivals, they have comeand gone, but Sachin has outlasted every body.

-- Sir Vivian Richards

* Sachin annually sponsors 200 underprivileged children.

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The double hundred against South Africa proves that a myth certain people carry about age is absolutely bogus. Beyond a shadow of doubt, he is the greatest batsman in the world that I have ever seen.

-- Sourav Ganguly

* Virgin comics is set to bring out a series with Sachin in a super hero avatar.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Super Hero Avatar"][/caption]

It is not surprising that Sachin Plays straight drives more towards the start of the innings and then takes out his more audacious shots once he has got his eye in.

-- Sanath Jayasuriya

* Sachin Tendulkar was the first batsman to have been declared run out by a third umpire in 1992 against South Africa.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="With Sir Donald Bradman"][/caption]

As Sachin overhauls milestones after milestones, we contemporaries must all be proud of having played alongside him because he is one of cricket's all-time greats. The key to defeating India was hoping that Sachin would make a mistake.

-- Wasim Akram

* During his school Days, Sachin wanted to be a seamer and joined the MRF Pace Foundation. Thank the heavens, Dennis Lillee suggested Sachin should "just focus" on batting.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Sachin at School"][/caption]

In modern cricket, the benchmark for batting goes by the name of Sachin Tendulkar, and all of us measure ourselves against the achievements of the man who has claimed most batting records as his own.

-- Ricky Ponting

Sachin is ambidextrous. He bats with his right hand but eats and signs with his left.



[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Maiden Century at Old Trafford"][/caption]

During Old Trafford Test I told Sachin to watch Angus Fraser closely because I was struggling against him and the very next ball he hit him for four. I realized then that it was useless to say anything to that boy.

-- Manoj Prabhakar

* While coaching Sachin, RamakantAchrekar used to place one-rupee coin, on the stumps as a prize to anyone who dismissed him. If he remained 'not out' throughout the session, Sachin got the coin. The bunch of coins he won is said to be among his prized possessions.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Master's Master Achrekar "][/caption]

Unlike many batsmen from the subcontinent who have not relished playing in England, Australia, Newzealand and South Africa, Sachin has always been equal to the challenge of playing in these conditions, and his record is proof of that.

-- Sir Richard Hadlee

* Sachin's grandfather named him after legendary music director Sachin DevBurman.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Padma Vibhushan"][/caption]

Since we made our debuts in the same test, we have always shared a special bond and I have followed his career with keen interest. Today I feel privileged to have started my cricketing journey with him, and it's great to see him conquer peak after peak in international cricket

-- Waqar Younis

* As a kid, Sachin grew his hair and sported sweatbands to imitate his idol, John McEnroe. He used to be called 'Mac' those days.

Tendulkar, Emperor of the Cricket Empire

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Sachin with Sachin in Madam Tussads"][/caption]

There was a time when I thought Ricky would retire from cricket with two major batting milestones to his name - highest run getter in Tests and most Test centuries. However, Sachin's resurgence has been so spectacular that he has put both milestones a good distance away from Ponting.

-- Glenn McGrath

* The master blaster visits Siddhi Vinayak temple whenever he gets time.

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I often call Sachin as Princess Diana of cricket because, like her, he is worshipped and yet seems humble and approachable.

-- Abdul Qadir

* Sachin made his Test debut against Pakistan in 1989 wearing the pads gifted by Sunil Gavaskar.

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He never contests a decision and always walks off. Even on the field, he never appeals unnecessarily and belongs to old school that believes that the umpires decision is final.

-- Steve Bucknor

* Sachin played without a bat contract during the 1996 World Cup in which he emerged as the highest run-getter!


[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Every century is dedicated for dad only"][/caption]

The ordinary cricket fan probably thinks that it is always the big hitters who win games, because their game is such a spectacle. But in order to be a consistent match winner, a player needs to be an accumulator as much as a hitter. Sachin excels in both areas.

-- Geoffrey Boycott

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="King of Records "][/caption]




[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Evolution of Sachin"][/caption]

Courtesy "The Week"

WISH YOU HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2011