From 664 at the Azad maidan to 175 in Hyderabad – a look at the milestones of Tendulkar’s extraordinary career
14-Nov-2009February 23-25, 1988
A monster in the making
Sachin Tendulkar, 14, and Vinod Kambli, 16 compile a 664-run unbroken partnership for Shardashram Vidyamandir against St Xavier’s at Azad Maidan in Bombay. Kambli makes 349 not out, Tendulkar 326 not out. It is the highest partnership recorded in any form of cricket, until November 2006 when two schoolboys from Hyderabad – Manoj Kumar and Mohammad Shaibaz – overtake the record with an unbeaten 721-run partnership.December 11, 1988
Truly first-class debut
At 15, scores an unbeaten century against Gujarat at the Wankhede Stadium to become the youngest Indian to make a hundred on first-class debut. Was picked after Bombay captain Dilip Vengsarkar watched him negotiate Kapil Dev in the nets.December 14, 1989
Bloody-minded to start with
On the last day of the last Test of his first Test series, in Sialkot, he gets hit on the nose by Waqar Younis – also in his first series. Falls down, gets up, and wipes away the blood. Medical assistance is declined. Is eventually out for 57.August 14, 1990
How young is too young?
At 17 years and 112 days, becomes the second-youngest centurion in Test history. His 119 not out against England at Old Trafford is a majestic rearguard that enables India to hang on for a draw. It still remains among his most valuable Test innings.February 2-3, 1992
Crazy diamond
Sculpts a counter-attacking gem of 114, from 135 for 6, then 159 for 8, at the WACA, the bounciest cricket pitch in the world.April, 1992
Yorkshire opens up
Becomes the first overseas signing for Yorkshire.November 27-28, 1992
A thousand reasons to cheer
At 19 years and 217 days, becomes the youngest player to make 1000 Test runs, during his 111 out of India’s 227 in Johannesburg.February 11-12, 1993
Mad in Madras
Scores his first Test century at home. Hits 24 fours and a six in his 165 against England, as India win by an innings and 22 runs.November 24, 1993
Golden arm unveiled
With South Africa needing six runs to win off the last over of their Hero Cup semi-final against India, he bowls a sensational over, giving them just three, and India victory.March 27, 1994
Going in first
Opens in an ODI for the first time – against New Zealand. Goes on to make 82, off 49 balls.October, 1995
Commercial worth
Signs a five-year contract worth Rs 31.5 crore with WorldTel, which makes him the richest cricketer in the world.February-March, 1996
His World Cup
With 523 runs at 87.16, is the highest scorer in the World Cup, held in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Scores two centuries and three half-centuries.August 8, 1996
Captaincy, part I
Is named captain of the Indian team, at age 23.January 2, 1998
End of captaincy, part I
Is sacked from the captaincy after a 15-month tenure during which India won three out of 17 Tests.February-March, 1998
His finest series
Gets his maiden first-class double-hundred and two hundreds and a fifty in three Tests against Australia. India win the home-series 2-1.April 22-24, 1998
Desert Storm
Scores two blazing, back-to-back hundreds against Australia in Sharjah to help India reach the final and win it.January 30-31, 1999
His greatest innings… almost
Makes 136 chasing 271 against Pakistan in Chennai with an injured back. Gets out with 17 runs to get; India fall short by 12.July 28, 1999
Captaincy, part II
Is reappointed captain – without his consent – after India, under Mohammad Azharuddin, fail to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in England.March 20, 2001
A thorn in Aussie flesh
Scores a century in a famous decider of a famous series, against Australia. India win 2-1, denying Australia the “final frontier”.March 31, 2001
The road less travelled
Becomes the first player to score 10,000 runs in one-day cricket in the course of his 139 against Australia in Indore.Tendulkar broke the ODI record for the most runs in 2000•Getty ImagesNovember 19, 2001
Ball-tampering?
Is cautioned and fined by match referee Mike Denness for trying to “change the condition of the ball” during the Port Elizabeth Test. The resulting outcry in India and the impasse between the Indian board and the ICC leads the latter to review the jurisdiction of match referees.December 21, 2001
Caught out of his crease
Is tied down by the leg-theory tactics of Ashley Giles in Bangalore, and is stumped for the first time in his Test career. It also highlights the start of his discomfort against left-arm spinners.August 22-23, 2002
Move over, Sir Don
Overtakes Don Bradman’s tally of 29 Test centuries, and misses a double-century by seven runs at Headingley, but India win by an innings and 46 runs.September 5, 2002
Fastest hundred
Becomes the youngest man ever to play 100 Tests, scores 54 in a drawn Test at The Oval. Apart from three Tests due to injury, he has not missed any since his debut, and has played 84 on the trot.February-March, 2003
His World Cup, part II
Scores 673 runs at 61.18 in the World Cup, taking India to within a win of the world crown. His 98 against Pakistan in an exceptionally anticipated match is one of the best knocks by an Indian in a World Cup. Australia are champions, but he is named Man of the Series.August, 2003
Privilege, what privilege?
Draws flak for a duty waiver on the Ferrari 360 Modena gifted to him by the Fiat group on his passing Bradman’s mark of 29 Test centuries. Finally offers to pay the $245,000 duty, which is covered by Fiat.January2-4, 2004
Economy over style
Scores a century without a cover-drive, goes on to get an unbeaten 241 in Sydney, and rates it the best among his centuries. Australia manage to hold on for a draw, and the series ends 1-1.March 28-29, 2004
Robbed of a double?
Scores an unbeaten 194 in Multan. Later says he was surprised India declared with him so close to the double-century.August, 2004
Cost of playing catches up
Tennis elbow surfaces, during the Videocon Cup in Holland. Misses the Champions Trophy in England, and then the first two home Tests against Australia.March 16, 2005
Ten thousand, twice over
Becomes the fifth man to score 10,000 Test runs in course of his 52 against Pakistan in Kolkata. India win the match by 192 runs.May, 2005
Tennis elbow refuses to go away
Undergoes surgery for the tennis elbow, misses a triangular in Sri Lanka, a tour to Zimbabwe, and the Super Series in Australia.Another landmark at the “Sachin Cricket Ground” in 2008•Getty ImagesOctober 25, 2005
Back, and howMakes a roaring return to international cricket, with 93 off 96 balls against Sri Lanka in Nagpur, in India’s 350 for 6.December 10, 2005
Sunny daysIn scoring 109 against Sri Lanka in Delhi, he becomes the leading centurion in Test cricket, overtaking Sunil Gavaskar’s 34 hundreds.March 19, 2006
Home crowd turns hostile
Struggles for 1 run in 33 minutes against England in Mumbai, and after he is dismissed, he is booed off the ground by his home crowd.March, 2006
Tryst with the knife
Goes to England for surgery to his right shoulder. Misses the one-dayers against England and the tour to the West Indies.September 14, 2006
Back and how, part II
Makes a stunning comeback, with 141 off 148 balls against West Indies in a DLF Cup ODI in Kuala Lumpur. India lose the match under the D/L rule.May, 2007
Unwanted rest
Is “rested” for the first time in his career, for the three-ODI series in Bangladesh. Scores two centuries in the two following Tests.August, 2007
A win outside subcontinent
With 228 runs at 38.00, he makes a significant contribution to his first Test-series win outside the subcontinent, as India beat England 1-0 to win the Pataudi Trophy.January 4, 2008
Sachin Cricket Ground
At an SCG full of worshippers, scores a sublime unbeaten 154, his first century in more than two years and 19 Tests, against opposition other than Bangladesh.March 2, 2008
Sachin Cricket Ground, Part II
Scores his first ODI century in Australia, in the first CB Series final. The innings is the foundation India build their first tri-series in Australia on.October 17, 2008
Scaling the summit
At 2.31pm on a hot Mohali Friday, Tendulkar steers debutant Peter Siddle towards the third-man boundary for three runs to break Brian Lara’s record for most Test runs.November 5, 2009
Solo again
Crosses 17,000 ODI runs during his 175 off 141 balls in a run-chase of 351 against Australia in Hyderabad. It is a chanceless innings that ends 19 runs short of the target, but India choke after his wicket and lose.
