Priyanshi Pareek reports on the richest cricketer of India..
Sachin Tendulkar, the cricketing legend, who is known as ‘The God of Cricket’ and ‘Little Master’, stands as the richest cricketer in the world.
With over 34,000 runs and an unparalleled 100 international centuries, he is not just a national hero but almost divine in India. His net worth in Indian rupees exceeds approx. 1390 crores, thanks to endorsements from renowned brands like BMW, Pepsi and MRF, where he clinched a ground-breaking Rs.100-crore deal in 2021. Sachin’s influence goes beyond the pitch, serving as a mentor to the Mumbai Indians, a five-time IPL champion.
Early life:
Tendulkar was born in Dadar, Bombay on 24 April 1973. His father, Ramesh Tendulkar, was a Marathi-language novelist and poet while his mother, Rajni, worked in the insurance industry. Tendulkar’s father named him after his favourite music director, Sachin Dev Burman.
He made his debut as a cricketer for Sharadashram in late 1984.
Besides school cricket, Tendulkar also played club cricket. In 1984, at age 11, he debuted in the Kanga Cricket League while playing for the John Bright Cricket Club. Beginning in 1988, he played for the Cricket Club of India.
Career:
100 international centuries. The first player to play 200 Tests. The first to score 200 in a Men’s ODI. The leading run scorer in both Tests (15,921 runs) and ODIs (18,426 runs). The most international appearances (664 matches). Sachin Tendulkar has set many records that will take some effort to beat.
Tendulkar started his cricket at the age of eleven, made his Test match debut on 15 November 1989 against Pakistan in Karachi at the age of sixteen, and went on to represent Mumbai domestically and India internationally for 26 years and one day, whilst his international career spanned exactly 24 years from 15 November 1989 to 16 November 2013.
In 2002, Tendulkar was a part of the team that was one of the joint-winners of the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy.
He was named as “Player of the Tournament” at the 2003 World Cup.
Tendulkar was part of the Indian team that won the 2011 Cricket World Cup, it was his first win in the World Cup after appearing for 6 World Cups (1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011) for India.
The cup was dedicated to Tendulkar by the Indian Team for his contribution in Indian Cricket.
Awards:
- Arjuna Award in 1994,
- Khel Ratna in 1997,
- Padma Shri in 1998
- Maharastra Bhushan in 2001
- Padma Vibhushan (2008) honours.
- He is the only sportsperson to be conferred the Bharat Ratna in 2013.
- ICC Cricketer of the Year – Highest Award in the ICC listings in 2010
- ICC World Test XI: 2009, 2010, 2011
- ICC World ODI XI: 2004, 2007, 2010
- Inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2019
“Don’t stop chasing your dreams, because dreams do come true.”