Sachin Tendulkar is often identified as the “God of Cricket”… But why is it so?

Cricket is not just another sport in India. It is the 3rd most important entity in our country after Politics and Bollywood. The 1990s witnessed a grim phase for cricket in India as the authority under which it was being functioned – BCCI – was declining financially. The likes of Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev had hung up their boots, and the entire nation was waiting, with bated breath, for its next superstar to look up to. And it did come, albeit in the unlikeliest of packages – a 16-year-old, 5'6″ tall curly-haired man who knew only one expression – to smile. However, neither of that mattered. What mattered was that he let his bat do the talking. At that time nobody knew this little boy is going to be the god of cricket in the world.

His impeccable shot selection, his crisp timing, and that sweet sound when the ball hit the middle of the bat captured the imagination of the scores. As years went by, the commentators were scrambling for dictionaries to find words to describe and admire, but this man never once lost his Midas touch. By the end of an illustrious 24-years-long career, he had written the script for Modern Indian Cricket and given the world the ‘ideal’ way of batting. Sachin Tendulkaris not just a legendary cricketer but a divine entity who made miracles visually possible for ordinary people whenever they sat in front of their TV sets. Let us see and understand why Sachin Tendulkar is called the 'God of Cricket'.

Numbers that prove Sachin is the “God of Cricket”

34,357 runs, 100 centuries, 164 half-centuries at an average of 51.74 in 664 international appearances along with 200 international wickets and 256 catches! This is what our Master Blaster's international career looks like statistically! These numbers prove that there's no doubt that Sachin is the complete athlete to have ever played the game of Cricket on this planet and rightly titled the God of Cricket. To do the same thing over and over again needs focus and consistency. But if a batsman scores consistently at an average of 50+ in 664 matches, it is indeed true that he is not an ordinary human being like all of us!

Records That Make Sachin “The God Of Cricket”

• The 2nd highest number of centuries (49) in ODI
• Most centuries in a calendar year (12 in 1998)
• The first person to score a double century
• Maximum 150+ run-scores
• The highest number of the Man of the Match awards (76)

Sachin Tendulkar all ODI Records

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar: The God of Cricket in Test

• The highest number of centuries (51)
• Leading run-scorer (11,953)
• Joint-fastest cricketer to reach 10,000 runs in Test cricket with Brian Lara
• 1000+ Test runs in a calendar years (6 times - 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2010)
• Only player in the world to have scored 5 Test centuries before turning 20.

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Sachin Tendulkar – All Test Records

Awards won by Sahin Tendulkar: The Cricket God

• Arjuna Award - 1994
• Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award - 1997-1998
• Wisden "Cricketer of the Year" – 1997
• Padma Shri - 1999
• Maharashtra Bhushan Award - 2001\
• "Player of the Tournament" in the Cricket World Cup – 2003
• I. C. C. World O. D. I. XI – 2004 and 2007
• "Rajiv Gandhi Award" in the sports category – 2005
• Padma Vibhushan - 2008
• "Cricketer of the Year" in the I.C.C. Award – 2010
• The Asian Awards for the "People's Choice" as well as the "Exceptional Achievement in Sports" – 2010 in London
• "B.C.C.I. Cricketer of the Year" Award – 31 May, 2011
• The "Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year" Award – 28 January, 2011
• Wisden India Outstanding Achievement Award – 11 June, 2012
• Honorary Member of the Order of Australia by the Australian government – 6 November, 2012
• Bharat Ratna - 2014
• First brand Ambassador of UNICEF for South Asia – 28th November, 2013.
• "Most Influential People in the World" - Time 100 list
• In 2023- On his 50th birthday, the West Stand at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium has been renamed the ‘Sachin Tendulkar Stand

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Sachin Tendulkar- Cricket God & A True Gentleman

And it's just not about the numbers. If anyone else would have got 10% as much following and popularity similar to the one Sachin had, it is natural that the person might get affected and develop at least some amount of arrogance. However, that has certainly not been the case with Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. He is still one of the most humble and down-to-earth people you could ever come across. In a 24-year-old long international career, Sachin has never been a part of a controversy. He has never been the talking point for any immoral incident or accident. Even after being considered the best player by the best in the business, Sachin has never let that affect him or his performances.

Even after his retirement from all forms of cricket, mothers in India consider him as the ideal son, children think of him as the perfect mentor, and teachers consider him the ideal student! Tendulkar's aura and simplicity make him a true gentleman and god of cricket who has been respected by every professional cricketer as well as a fan of the game of cricket. All these factors surely justify the godly presence he has throughout the world and why he is one in a billion!

Origin of the term God of Cricket

(credits: GettyImages)

Although there's not one single person who originated the term, there have been traces of the origin of associating Sachin as the 'God of Cricket'. Once when Sachin was in his prime form in the late 1990s, a group of fans in the Indian crowd came up with posters that said, "If cricket is our religion, then Sachin is our God." This quote came in an age when social media didn't exist. It was the Indian media that used Sachin's persona and Indians' affection towards Tendulkar and made this viral among the masses.

A lot of people also say that the first person to coin him this term was former Australian opener, Matthew Hayden. Hayden was a huge admirer of the way Sachin played. In one of his public statements, Hayden said-

"I have seen God. He bats at no.4 for India in tests."

Since then, there has been no looking back. The term ‘God of cricket’ has always been synonymous to Sachin Tendulkar. Maybe there is no better way of describing this living legend after all!

Sachin Tendulkar Family

This 50-year-old legend was born on 24 April 1973 in Bombay, Maharashtra. Sachin Tendulkar has three elder siblings: two half-brothers Nitin and Ajit, and a half-sister Savita. Tendulkar spent his early years in the Sahitya Sahawas Cooperative Housing Society in Bandra. Tendulkar married Anjali Mehta on 24 May 1995, whom he had first met in 1990. They have a daughter Sara and a son Arjun Tendulkar.

His son, Arjun Tendulkar is a left-handed fast bowler and left-handed batsman. Arjun made an under-19 debut for India against Sri Lanka in 2018. He also made his Twenty20 debut in the 2020-21 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy against Haryana.

Famous Quotes on Sachin Tendulkar by Legends

Here are famous quotations on Sachin Tendulkar that proves Sachin is the god of cricket.

• "Nothing bad can happen to us on a plane in India with Sachin Tendulkar on it." -Hashim Amla, South African Cricketer.
• "There are two batsmen all around the world: One, Sachin Tendulkar. Two, all others." –Andy Flower, former Zimbabwe captain.

• "He's been in form longer than some of our guys have been alive."- Daniel Vettori, former New Zealand captain.

• "I don't know cricket; I don't know how Sachin plays. But I still try to watch him playing because I want to know why my country's economy goes down 0.5% when he's batting."– Barack Obama (former US President)

• "The joy he brings to the millions of his countrymen, the grace with which he handles all the adulation and the expectations and his innate humility - all make for a one-in-a-billion individual." - Glenn McGrath, former Australian bowler.

• I have delayed my shoots many times to watch Sachin bat - Amitabh Bachchan.

• I am fortunate that I've to bowl at him only in the nets - Anil Kumble
• Never coached Sachin Tendulkar, just gave him gentle advice when he asked for it - John Wright
• He can play that leg glance with a walking stick also - Waqar Younis
• We won with ten but lost to one - Steve Waugh
• Don't bowl him bad balls, he hits the good ones for fours. - Michael Kasprowicz
• When we were growing up, we all used to watch Sachin. He was like God to us, he had that aura around him.- MS Dhoni
• We have had champions, we have had legends, but we have never had another Sachin Tendulkar and we never will. - TIME magazine
• I had to remind Gary Kristen often that he was in the covers to field against Sachin and not to applaud him.- Hansie Cronje

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar: A Living Legend

"When I watched Sachin play, I was very struck by his technique. I never saw myself play, but I feel this fellow is playing much the way I used to play."

-Sir Donald Bradman, Australian cricketing legend

FAQ’s

1. Why is Sachin Tendulkar called the “God of Cricket”?

Sachin Tendulkar is widely regarded as the “God of Cricket” due to his incredible cricketing skills, numerous records, and his impact on the sport. He is considered one of the greatest batsmen of all time, and his impressive career statistics justify his title as the “God of Cricket”.

2. What makes Sachin Tendulkar the greatest batsman and “God of Cricket”?

Sachin Tendulkar’s impressive record of 100 international centuries, 34,357 runs, and 164 half-centuries makes him the greatest batsman and “God of Cricket”. His incredible shot selection, crisp timing, and ability to perform under pressure have earned him the respect and admiration of cricket fans worldwide.

3. How did Sachin Tendulkar become the “God of Cricket” in India?

Sachin Tendulkar’s rise to becoming the “God of Cricket” in India began with his impressive debut at the age of 16. He quickly gained popularity and admiration for his incredible batting skills, and his records and achievements cemented his status as the “God of Cricket” in India.

4. What is Sachin Tendulkar’s legacy as the “God of Cricket”?

Sachin Tendulkar’s legacy as the “God of Cricket” extends beyond his impressive cricketing career. He has inspired generations of cricketers and fans, and his impact on Indian cricket has been immense. He continues to be revered as the “God of Cricket” and remains an iconic figure in the world of cricket.

5. Why is Sachin Tendulkar still considered the “God of Cricket” even after his retirement?

Sachin Tendulkar’s impact on cricket and his legacy continue to inspire and influence the sport, even after his retirement. His numerous records and achievements, combined with his humility and dedication to the sport, have cemented his status as the “God of Cricket”. He remains an iconic figure in the world of cricket, and his legacy continues to inspire new generations of cricketers and fans.

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