Sachin Tendulkar: 15,921 Test Runs, 100 International Centuries — The God of Cricket and 2003 WC POTT
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar was born on 24 April 1973 in Mumbai, India. He is the greatest run-scorer in the history of both Test cricket and ODI cricket: 15,921 Test runs at 53.78 with 51 centuries in 200 Tests (most Tests, most runs, most centuries in Test history); 18,426 ODI runs at 44.83 with 49 centuries in 463 matches (most ODIs, most runs, most centuries in ODI history). He debuted for India in 1989 aged 16 against Pakistan at Karachi. He played his final international match in November 2013 (200th Test at Wankhede, Mumbai). He was named Player of the Tournament at the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup (673 runs at 61.18 — the most runs by any player in a World Cup tournament at the time). He was the first batsman to score 200 in a Men's ODI (200* vs South Africa, Gwalior, 2010). Nicknamed 'The Little Master' and widely called the 'God of Cricket' in India.
Sachin Tendulkar was born on 24 April 1973 in Mumbai, India. He made his Test debut at age 16 against Pakistan in Karachi in November 1989 — the first of 200 Tests spanning 24 years. He retired in November 2013 as the most prolific batsman in the history of both Test cricket (15,921 runs at 53.78, 51 centuries) and ODI cricket (18,426 runs at 44.83, 49 centuries). He holds the record for most Test matches played (200), most Test runs, most Test centuries, most ODI matches played (463), most ODI runs and most ODI centuries — a comprehensive set of statistical records in batting that may never be surpassed.
100 International Centuries: The Unique Record
Tendulkar's most famous statistical record is 100 international centuries (51 in Tests, 49 in ODIs) — a total no other player in the history of international cricket has reached. The milestone was reached on 16 March 2012 against Bangladesh at Mirpur, Dhaka, in an Asia Cup match — a 114-ball 114 in an ODI. The journey to 100 centuries was extended by a 13-month drought between his 99th century (in December 2010) and the 100th (March 2012), during which he was subjected to enormous public pressure. The record stands at 100; Virat Kohli, the next-closest active player, has scored 80+ international centuries as of 2025.
2003 World Cup and the 200* vs South Africa
Tendulkar was named Player of the Tournament at the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup for scoring 673 runs at 61.18 — the most runs by any player in any World Cup at the time (subsequently surpassed). His most celebrated innings was 98 against Pakistan at Centurion in the group stage — India won by 6 wickets. Despite his individual brilliance, India lost the final to Australia by 125 runs, with Ricky Ponting scoring 140 not out. On 24 February 2010 at Captain Roop Singh Stadium, Gwalior, he scored 200 not out off 147 balls against South Africa — the first player ever to score 200 in a Men's ODI, batting through 50 overs and hitting 25 fours and 3 sixes.
Frequently asked questions
How many international centuries did Sachin Tendulkar score and how is the record split?
Sachin Tendulkar scored 100 international centuries in total: 51 in Test cricket and 49 in ODI cricket. He reached his 100th century in March 2012 against Bangladesh in an Asia Cup match at Mirpur. The journey from 99 to 100 took over 13 months and attracted enormous media scrutiny in India. No other player in the history of international cricket has scored more than 80 international centuries — the record is unique to Tendulkar. He also holds separate records for most centuries in both Tests (51) and ODIs (49, subsequently surpassed by Virat Kohli who reached 50 in 2023).
What was Sachin Tendulkar's record in the 2003 Cricket World Cup?
Sachin Tendulkar was named Player of the Tournament at the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup for scoring 673 runs at 61.18 across the tournament — the most runs scored by any player in any single Cricket World Cup at the time. His most famous innings was 98 off 75 balls against Pakistan at Centurion in the group stage; India won by 6 wickets. Tendulkar scored centuries against Namibia and Kenya as well as the 98 vs Pakistan. India reached the final but lost to Australia by 125 runs (Ricky Ponting 140*). Despite India not winning the tournament, Tendulkar's individual performances earned him the Player of the Tournament award.