30 Lesser-Known Facts About Sachin Tendulkar
30 Lesser-Known Facts About Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar, the "God of Cricket," is a name that resonates with cricket fans worldwide. While his records and achievements are well-documented, there are many intriguing aspects of his life that are not as widely known. Here are 30 lesser-known facts about the Master Blaster:
Named After a Music Director: Sachin was named after his family's favorite music director, Sachin Dev Burman.
Early Cricket Coaching: His coach, Ramakant Achrekar, used to place a one-rupee coin on the stumps. If Sachin remained not out, he would get the coin. He still treasures those coins.
Ball Boy at 14: Sachin served as a ball boy during the 1987 World Cup match between India and Zimbabwe at Wankhede Stadium.
Rejected as a Fast Bowler: Dennis Lillee, the Australian fast bowler, rejected Sachin's application to join the MRF Pace Foundation, advising him to focus on his batting.
First Car: Sachin's first car was a red Maruti 800, which he still owns.
Substitute Fielder for Pakistan: During a match in 1987, Sachin fielded for Pakistan as a substitute when Javed Miandad and Abdul Qadir left the field.
First TV Umpire Decision: Sachin was the first international cricketer to be given out by a third umpire in 1992.
Yorkshire's First Overseas Player: In 1992, Sachin became the first overseas-born player to represent Yorkshire.
Cameo in a Movie: Sachin made a cameo appearance in the movie "Stumped" in 2013.
Ferrari Gift: Fiat gifted Sachin a Ferrari 360 when he equaled Don Bradman's record of 29 Test centuries. The car was handed to him by Michael Schumacher.
First TV Ad: Sachin's first TV commercial was for Johnson & Johnson Band-Aid in 1989.
Youngest Player in Test Cricket: Sachin made his Test debut at the age of 16 years and 205 days, making him the fifth-youngest player in Test cricket history.
Sleeping with Cricket Gear: As a child, Sachin used to sleep with his cricket gear out of his passion for the game.
First ODI Century: It took Sachin 79 matches to score his first ODI century.
Friendship with Sourav Ganguly: Sachin and Sourav Ganguly shared a close friendship, and Sachin once played a prank by putting a hose pipe into Ganguly's room and turning on the tap.
World Record Partnership: At the age of 14, Sachin and Vinod Kambli scored 329 out of a world-record stand of 664 in a school match.
First International Cricketer to Score 200 in an ODI: Sachin was the first cricketer to score a double century in an ODI, achieving this feat against South Africa in 2010.
Rajya Sabha Nomination: Sachin is the first active cricketer to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India's Parliament.
Bharat Ratna Award: In 2014, Sachin became the youngest recipient of the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.
Passion for Music: Sachin has a deep love for music and enjoys playing the guitar in his free time.
Childhood Nickname: Sachin was fondly called "Tendlya" and "Little Master" during his childhood by his friends and family.
Autograph Incident: At the age of 19, Sachin signed an autograph for an ardent fan on a currency note. The Reserve Bank of India later issued a directive prohibiting such practices.
Medical Aspirations: If not a cricketer, Sachin would have pursued a career in medicine. He had a strong inclination toward the medical field.
Mango Lover: Sachin has an immense love for mangoes and considers them his favorite fruit.
Superstitions: Sachin is known for his superstitions, including putting on his left pad before his right and wearing a specific pair of socks.
World Cup Song: During the 2011 World Cup, Sachin was part of a group that composed and sang the song "Phir Se" to motivate the Indian team.
Tea Lover: Sachin is an avid tea lover and enjoys a cup of tea after every match.
Love for Photography: Sachin has a keen interest in photography and often captures moments during his travels.
First Class Debut Century: Sachin scored a century on his first-class debut for Mumbai against Gujarat at the age of 15.
School Life: Sachin attended Shardashram Vidyamandir School, where he honed his cricketing skills under the guidance of his coach, Ramakant Achrekar.