Apr 24, 2023
Sachin Tendulkar, the evergreen poster boy of Indian cricket, forever the Boy Genius who epitomized youth and youthful heroism, turns 50 on April 24.
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The legend has seen many ups and downs, exhilarating moments and other vignettes in his life devoted to cricket.
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Sachin Tendulkar battled the fiercest of fast bowlers aged 16 in 1989, in Pakistan as the curly-haired, baby-faced boy wonder.
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Sachin had refused to take the sagely advice of the more battle-hardened colleagues to retire hurt with a bloodied nose, with a stern shriek: "Nahin, main khelega".
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But Tendulkar is nothing if not a man of milestones. He just had to get to another 50, even though he retired ten years ago.
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Tendulkar has scored 68 half-centuries in Tests, cracked 96 in ODIs, smashed 116 in First-Class cricket and hit 114 in List A games.
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Add to those the 16 Tendulkar got in T20s, mostly in the IPL.
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Tendulkar is the only cricketer to score 100 international centuries and honoured with the coveted Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.
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In 1998, when the captaincy was taken away from him, Tendulkar recorded probably his greatest season.
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Post the 2007 World Cup, Tendulkar rattled off 24 centuries in a prolific four-year period.
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Over a decorated career of almost 24 years, Tendulkar's body was ravaged by injuries, both old and new.
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The injury that hurts Sachin the most is the back injury he suffered during his epic 136 in the fourth innings at Chennai vs Pakistan.
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In August 2004, Tendulkar was diagnosed of Tennis Elbow in Holland where India were playing a Tri-series.
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From 2007 to 2011, when Tendulkar scored 24 centuries, he was suffering from Tennis Elbow and a Golfer's Elbow on the right hand.
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In 2011, Tendulkar's dream of winning the ODI World Cup was finally fulfilled.
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10 years of living as a retired cricketer has not diminished Tendulkar's love for the game.
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