Do You Know These 50 Facts about Sachin Tendulkar? 16th Fact Will Amaze You

On 24th April 1973, a ‘god’ was born in Mumbai. Sachin Tendulkar was destined to be different and great. He has been called ‘the god of cricket’ and rightfully so. He is one of the greatest sportsmen humanity has ever witnessed.

Coming from a lowly background, Sachin journeyed to become one of the greatest cricketers of all time. Record after record ensures his impact on the game is immortal. He wasn’t just a cricketer; he was a phenomenon. Everyone knows about him, but do you know some of these facts about Sachin Tendulkar? 

Here are 50 fascinating facts that reveal the extraordinary life and career of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar!

Humble Beginnings & Childhood Wonders

Let’s start with his childhood. Here are 9 interesting facts about his childhood:

1. Musical Naming: His father, Ramesh, was such a huge fan of the musician S.D. Burman, that he named his son after him.
2. Mistaken Identity: Despite his famously calm and disciplined reputation, he was often punished for school mischief!
3. Brother’s Smart Move: To curb his truancy, his brother Ajit sent him for cricket coaching—a brilliant intervention, not a formal punishment.
4. Nature Boy: As a child, he found joy in the simpler things, spending time catching tadpoles and guppies.
5. The Fateful Rejection: At age 10, the MRF Pace Foundation rejected him, a turning point that shifted his focus entirely to batting.
6. Rainy Day Diversions: During inevitable rain breaks, he kept his competitive spirit alive by playing tennis ball cricket and darts.
7. Wankhede Ball Boy: He got an early taste of the big league, serving as a ball boy for the 1987 World Cup semi-final (India vs. Zimbabwe at Wankhede).
8. Fielding for the Rivals: In a bizarre twist of fate, he once fielded as a substitute for Pakistan in a 1988 practice match against India!
9. Pocket Money Prizes: His coach, Ramakant Achrekar, rewarded his commitment with 13 one-rupee coins for completing full, uninterrupted net sessions.

Record-Breaking Rise

At 15, he entered the world of cricket, and that started a flood of records after records. Here are some record-breaking facts about Sachin Tendulkar:

10. The Epic Stand: He and Vinod Kambli shattered records with a 664-run partnership in the 1988 Harris Shield, a world record at the time.
11. The Youngest Lion: He made his Ranji Trophy debut against Gujarat at the tender age of 15 years, 232 days, making him the youngest debutant.
12. Study on the Road: He was so dedicated to his education that he often carried textbooks during Ranji tours to keep up with his studies.
13. Sleeping with the Game: Early in his career, he had a peculiar habit of sleeping with his cricket gear—a true sign of his passion.
14. Breaking Barriers at Yorkshire: In 1992, at age 19, he became Yorkshire’s first-ever overseas player.
15. Debut Century Hat-Trick: He showcased his extraordinary consistency by scoring debut centuries in the Ranji, Irani Cup, and Duleep Trophy (1988, 1989, and 1990-91, respectively).
16. Ambidextrous Talent: Though he bats and bowls right-handed, the Master Blaster is actually left-handed for writing!

Gear, Glamour & Firsts

Fame brings a lot of things: Money, fame, glamour, brand deals, and whatnot! Here are some interesting facts about Sachin Tendulkar’s life after fame:

17. First Wheels: His first car was the quintessential Indian family vehicle, a Maruti 800.
18. The First Sip of Fame: His very first endorsement was for the popular health drink, Boost.
19. Odd Advertising Debut: One of his earliest advertisements was for a simple, everyday product: a sticking plaster brand.
20. Gavaskar’s Blessings: For his 1989 ODI debut against Pakistan, he wore Sunil Gavaskar’s gifted pads.
21. No Duck on Test Debut: While his ODI debut was a duck, his Test debut in 1989 vs. Pakistan yielded 15 runs, not a zero.
22. Bat Scrutiny: During his 1990 England Test debut, bowler Allan Mullally actually questioned the width of his bat.
23. First Third-Umpire Victim: In 1992, he became the first batsman in history to be given out by the third umpire (a run-out vs. South Africa).
24. The Billion Dollar Baby: In 1995, he signed an unprecedented ₹31.5 crore deal with World Tel, making him the highest-paid cricketer globally at the time.
25. The Heavy Hitter: His iconic bat weighed about 1.47 kg (3.2 lbs.).

Personal Tastes & Quirks

Tendulkar has his own quirks like most of us. Here are some unknown facts about Sachin Tendulkar’s quirks and personal taste.

26. Failed Disguise: His attempt to watch the 1995 film Roja in a disguise failed spectacularly when fans recognized him instantly.
27. A Fan of the Court: He is a major tennis enthusiast, idolizing legends John McEnroe and Roger Federer.
28. McEnroe’s Influence: As a kid, he even copied McEnroe’s hairband style!
29. The Bombay Treat: His favourite street food is the quintessential Mumbai snack, Vada Pav.
30. Music Aficionado: His eclectic playlist includes the timeless voice of Kishore Kumar and the rock sounds of Dire Straits.
31. Ganguly’s Nickname: His long-time teammate and friend, Sourav Ganguly, affectionately nicknamed him “Chhota Babu” (Little Master/Little Boss).
32. Driving Privilege Denied: Famously protective of his possessions, he wouldn’t let his wife, Anjali, drive his Ferrari!
33. The Prankster: Even the Little Master got up to mischief—he once pranked Sourav Ganguly with a hose in the dressing room.
34. Foodie Adventures: He enjoys non-vegetarian food and once got adventurous, seeking the recipe for frog bhaji.

Milestones & Strange Stats

What is one thing Sachin Tendulkar is known for? If you said records, you are right! Here are some strange stats and milestones from his esteemed career:

35. The Unopened Champagne: Since he was under 18 at the time of his first Man of the Match award, he kept the champagne bottle unopened as a keepsake.
36. Under-20 Wonder: He holds the record for the five Test centuries before reaching the age of 20.
37. Ritualistic Start: Superstition was a part of his game: he always padded his left leg first.
38. Bat Whisperer: He not only used his bats to score runs but also maintained them meticulously, offering advice to teammates on bat care.
39. Highest Civilian Honour: In 2014, he became the youngest person and the only cricketer to receive the Bharat Ratna.
40. Harry Potter Fan Moment: After a 2007 Lord’s Test, actor Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) actually queued up for his autograph!
41. Valuable Defeats: He earned nine Man of the Match awards in defeats, highlighting his consistent brilliance even when the team faltered.
42. The Nervous Nineties King: He holds the infamous record for the most international dismissals in the nervous 90s (28 times: 10 in Tests, 18 in ODIs).
43. Honorary Airman: In 2010, the Indian Air Force conferred on him the title of Honorary Group Captain.
44. Parliamentary Innings: He took his oath as a Rajya Sabha MP on June 4, 2012.
45. World Cup Veteran: He played in a record-tying six World Cups (1987-2011).
46. All-Rounder Moments: He proved his worth with the ball too, taking two ODI five-wicket hauls (vs. Australia in 1998, vs. Pakistan in 2005).
47. The Missing Numbers: In his entire international career, he missed only two scores in the 50s: 58 and 75.
48. In-Law’s Bridge Mastery: His father-in-law, Anand Mehta, is an accomplished sportsman—a seven-time national bridge champion.
49. Never the No. 3: Across his massive career of 200 Test matches, he never batted at the No. 3 position.
50. Stumped Only Once: A testament to his impeccable footwork, he was stumped only once in his entire Test career (vs. England in 2001 at Leeds).

Conclusion:

The list of facts about Sachin Tendulkar serves as a remarkable testament to his enduring legacy, both on and off the field. From his humble start as a mischievous schoolboy whose career began to curb truancy, to becoming the youngest Bharat Ratna recipient, his life has been a series of unprecedented milestones. He was a perfect blend of natural genius and relentless hard work, making him one of the greatest and most beloved figures in global sports history.

These 50 facts about Sachin Tendulkar only scratch the surface of the phenomenon known as the Master Blaster. His impact transcends statistics; he united a nation and inspired generations. As a batsman who was only stumped once in 200 Tests and a player who balanced fame with simple pleasures like Vada Pav, his journey remains unparalleled and his ‘God of Cricket’ status firmly cemented.

FAQs

1. How many international centuries did Sachin Tendulkar score?

He is the only cricketer in history to score 100 international centuries (51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs).

2. What is his total international run tally?

Tendulkar scored over 34,000 international runs across all formats (Test, ODI, and T20I), the highest aggregate by any player.

3. What unique record does he hold regarding the number 3 position?

Across his entire 200-Test match career, he never batted at the No. 3 position.