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Sachin Tendulkar begins a third decade in world cricket
‘Cricket is my life and I am lucky and absolutely honoured that I have been able to wear the India cap for 20 years.’
The Indian batting maestro is also the only active cricketer to feature in the longest Tests career list and at 36 years of age he is still going strong. Sachin Tendulkar Completed his 20 years in international cricket and became the first Indian and only the 16th in the history of the game to have a career spanning more than two decades. Tendulkar, who made his debut as a 16-year-old against Pakistan way back in November 15, 1989, will reach the milestone of 20 years and one day in international cricket. In his Test career spanning 19 years 143 days till date, Tendulkar has represented India in a record 159 Tests. He also played a record 436 50-over matches in his 19 years and 325 days one-day career, thus becoming only the second player after Pakistan’s Javed Miandad to have the longest ODI career. In his two decades long career, Tendulkar had written many records which catapulted him to the honor of being the milestone man. Even though he holds the record of being the highest run-getter and century maker in both the Tests and ODIs, he is everlasting hunger for runs know no boundary. A perfectionist by nature, Tendulkar has till date amassed a staggering 12,773 runs from 159 Tests at a robust average of 54.58 with a mind boggling 42 centuries and 53 half centuries. His records in ODIs are too unmatchable. The Mumbaikar recently achieved another milestone when he became the only batsman in the history of the game to break into 17,000 run mark. With a mammoth 17,173 runs from 436 ODIs, Tendulkar is in the threshold of another feat as he is just nine centuries short of touching the magical figure of 100 tons. Tendulkar is also just 54 runs short of becoming the only batsman in the world to score a whopping 30,000 run in international cricket — combining both Tests and ODIs. ‘My love for cricket and the honour of playing for my country have kept me motivated all these years,’ said Tendulkar, 36, ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka starting in Ahmedabad on Monday.