Tag: Sachin Tendulkar

VADODARA: India’s talismanic batter Virat Kohli on Sunday added another feather to his cap after shattering Sachin Tendulkar’s record to reach 28,000 runs in international cricket during the ODI series opener against New Zealand.

The right-hander recorded the feat in 624 innings, surpassing Tendulkar’s record of 644 innings and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakara’s (666) innings.

In doing so, he also overtook Sangakara’s tally of 28,016 runs in international cricket and now trails only Tendulkar’s 34,357 runs.

Before coming into the fixture, Kohli required 25 runs to reach the milestone, and he did it in style, hitting a four during the 12th over of the game.

Later on, he went past Sanagakara on the last ball of the 18th over with a single off Michael Bracewell’s bowling.

Fastest to 28,000 international runs

624 innings* = Virat Kohli*
644 innings – Sachin Tendulkar
666 innings – Kumar Sangakkara

Put into bat first, New Zealand piled up 300-8 at the end of their 50 overs with Daryll Mitchell top-scoring with 84.

In reply, India started strongly with Rohit Sharma and returning Shubman Gill stitching a 39-run partnership.

After Rohit’s dismissal for 26, Kohli came to the fore and steadied India’s ship with a monumental partnership of 118 with Gill.

Gill made 56 from 71 balls while Virat Kohli continued to dominate until the first ball of the 39th over.

The right-handed batter was caught after nearly missing his 54th ODI century. He hit eight fours and a six on his way to 93 from 91 deliveries.

Eventually, India cruised to a four-wicket win over the BlackCaps in the last over, with KL Rahul remaining unbeaten on 29.

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BENGALURU: India ace batter Virat Kohli on Wednesday shattered yet another record of legendary Sachin Tendulkar to become the fastest to 16,000 runs in men’s List A cricket during the Delhi opening match in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Kohli reached the landmark in his 330th innings on his Vijay Hazare Trophy return. On the contrary, Sachin crossed the feat in his 391st innings.

With this, Kohli now holds the record for the fastest player to reach each set of 1000 runs from 10,000 onwards.

Fastest to 16,000 Runs in List A Cricket

Virat Kohli in 330 Innings

Sachin Tendulkar in 391 Innings

Gordon Greenidge in 422 Innings

Ricky Ponting in 430 Innings

Graham Gooch in 435 Innings

Viv Richards in 435 Innings

Nonetheless, Kohli hit 131 from 101 balls with the help of three sixes and 14 fours, which helped Delhi chase down a target of 299 against Andhra Pardesh in 37.4 overs.

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The right-hander scored ton on 84 balls with a muted celebration.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma also hit a ton and scored 155 from 94 balls, a knock which propelled him past David Warner.

Warner had registered nine scores of 150+ in his List A career, while Rohit Sharma also equalled the record with his majestic knock.

The ace batter’s knock was laced with 18 fours and nine maximums, powering  Mumbai to an eight-wicket victory over Sikkim.

For the unversed, the players’ participation in domestic competition comes after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issued strict guidelines for centrally contracted players.

The guidelines imply centrally contracted players’ compulsory participation in domestic competition in a bid to remain eligible for selection in the national team.

The policy was made in early January 2025 in the aftermath of India’s Test series loss against Australia down under.

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MUMBAI: Legendary Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar shared a heartfelt message on social media following an unforgettable meeting with Argentina’s FIFA World Cup-winning superstar Lionel Messi at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.

Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, arrived in Mumbai earlier in the day as part of his GOAT India Tour 2025, with the city’s stop emerging as the centrepiece of his visit.

The atmosphere at Wankhede in the evening was electric, as chants of “Messi, Messi” rang around the stadium when the Argentine great walked out alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul.

The reception reached another level when Tendulkar, Mumbai’s own sporting icon, joined Messi on the field, triggering thunderous applause from the packed stands.

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The moment symbolised a rare convergence of greatness, with both legends synonymous with the iconic No.10 jersey and celebrated for redefining excellence in their respective sports.

Tendulkar presented Messi with his India No.10 jersey from the historic 2011 World Cup triumph, a gesture that drew loud cheers from fans.

Soon after the meeting, Tendulkar took to his official X account to share his joy.

“Must say, today was a 10/10 day Leo Messi 😉,” Tendulkar wrote, alongside a picture of him handing over his No.10 Team India jersey to the football icon.

Must say, today was a 10/10 day Leo Messi 😉 pic.twitter.com/L6AaYY1PdL

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 14, 2025

Beyond the star-studded exchange, Messi and his teammates also spent time on the pitch with young girls from Maharashtra’s grassroots football initiative, Project Mahadeva.

The budding footballers shared a once-in-a-lifetime experience as they passed the ball around with Messi watching closely and joining in.

The celebrations continued as Messi and his teammates took turns kicking footballs into the crowd, each effort drawing louder roars from the stands.

Project Mahadeva was later officially unveiled by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis alongside Messi, with the Chief Minister thanking the Argentine star for inspiring the next generation and expressing hope that these young players would one day feature in a FIFA World Cup.

Actor Tiger Shroff, who is associated with the initiative, was also present and met Messi on the field.

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MUMBAI: Two global sporting icons shared a memorable moment at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, as Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar gifted his iconic No.10 jersey to Argentine football great Lionel Messi during the latter’s GOAT India Tour 2025.

Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and FIFA World Cup champion, arrived in Mumbai from Hyderabad earlier in the day, with the city’s stop turning into the highlight of his India visit.

The evening at Wankhede Stadium was electric, with chants of “Messi, Messi” echoing around the venue as the Argentine star walked out alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul.

The reception reached another level when Mumbai’s homeboy Sachin Tendulkar joined Messi on the field, drawing thunderous applause from the crowd.

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The presenter underscored the symbolic bond between the two legends, both synonymous with the iconic No.10 jersey and revered for redefining excellence in their respective sports.

Sachin Tendulkar then presented Lionel Messi with his India No.10 jersey from the historic 2011 World Cup triumph, a gesture that resonated deeply with fans inside the packed stadium.

Messi reciprocated by gifting Tendulkar the FIFA World Cup ball he won with Argentina, turning the exchange into one of the most cherished cross-sport moments witnessed in India.

Addressing the crowd, Tendulkar thanked Mumbai for its overwhelming support and described the occasion as a “dream moment” for the city of dreams.

He also expressed gratitude to Messi, Suarez and De Paul for gracing the iconic venue, while voicing hope that football would continue to grow in India through such global interactions.

The celebrations extended beyond cricket and football royalty, with Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri also sharing the stage with Messi.

The Argentine captain presented Chhetri with a signed Argentina jersey, acknowledging his contribution to Indian football.

Messi and his teammates were later felicitated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who presented the football superstar with a special memento to mark his visit.

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VISAKHAPATNAM: Rohit Sharma has added another glittering chapter to his storied career as he joined teammate Virat Kohli, as well as legendary Sachin Tendulkar, in an elite list of Indian batters.

During the third ODI against South Africa at the Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Sharma became the fourth Indian batter in history to cross 20,000 runs in international cricket.

He reached the landmark while nudging a length delivery from Keshav Maharaj into the leg side for a single in the 14th over. That run, his 27th of the innings, pushed him into an elite club alongside Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid.

Rohit has now amassed 20,048 runs across formats in 538 innings, continuing a career defined by longevity, elegance, and big-match temperament.

Only Tendulkar (34,357), Kohli (27,910) and Dravid (24,208) have scored more for India at the international level.

Most international runs for India

• Sachin Tendulkar – 34357 runs in 782 innings

• Virat Kohli – 27975 runs in 622 innings

• Rahul Dravid – 24208 runs in 605 innings

• Rohit Sharma – 20048 runs in 538 innings

• Sourav Ganguly – 18575 runs in 488 innings

Once the milestone was out of the way, Rohit shifted gears, crafting a fluent 75 off 73 balls, decorated with seven fours and three booming sixes, before Maharaj returned to remove him in the 26th over.

His innings laid the perfect platform for India in the series decider. From there, the hosts barely broke a sweat.

Yashasvi Jaiswal turned the chase into a one-man exhibition, smashing an unbeaten 116, while Virat Kohli chipped in with a controlled 65* as India cruised to a nine-wicket win with overs to spare.

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South Africa, earlier put into bat, were lifted to 270 courtesy of a vintage Quinton de Kock hundred.

The left-hander hammered 106 off 89 balls, striking eight fours and six sixes in a typically authoritative knock.

Captain Temba Bavuma offered support with 48 off 67, but the visitors ultimately fell short as India’s bowlers tightened the screws in the final phase of the innings, bundling them out in 47.5 overs.

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RANCHI: Virat Kohli etched his name deeper into cricketing history on Sunday as he surpassed a long-standing record of Sachin Tendulkar during the first ODI against South Africa at the JSCA International Stadium Complex.

The Indian batting stalwart produced a breathtaking knock of 135 off 120 deliveries, featuring 11 fours and seven sixes, to register his 52nd ODI century.

In doing so, he broke Tendulkar’s record for most centuries in a single format, which was 51 Test hundreds.

Kohli reached the landmark in the 38th over of India’s innings before being dismissed while attempting a lofted stroke, walking back after yet another masterclass.

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His monumental innings also added to an already remarkable year, having earlier become the fastest batter to reach 14,000 runs in ODI cricket, achieving the feat in just 287 innings, far quicker than any of his contemporaries.

Kohli’s century was the centrepiece of a dominant Indian batting display, supported by half-centuries from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, as India posted an imposing total of 349 for 8 in their allotted 50 overs.

South Africa mounted a spirited chase in response but fell agonisingly short in a high-scoring contest, getting bowled out for 332 in 49.2 overs.

Kuldeep Yadav led India’s bowling effort with four crucial wickets to swing the game in the hosts’ favour.

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India’s batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar on Monday shared his thoughts on England ace batter Joe Root nearing his all-time runs tally record in Test Cricket.

Tendulkar has amassed 15,921 runs in 200 Test matches in his legendary career spanning 24 years.

He called his time on his career in 2013 against the West Indies as the highest run scorer in Test cricket with 51 centuries and 68 fifties and since then, his record has remained intact.

England’s Joe Root, who recently broke the 13,000 runs barrier, is on the verge of surpassing Tendulkar’s tally and is now only second to the little master.

The 34-year-old Root, who is still 2,378 runs behind Tendulkar, is tipped by former cricketers to break the record, considering the number of test matches England plays each year.

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Now, Sachin Tendulkar has commented on Root’s run tally, recalling the talismanic batter’s debut, which was in 2012 against India.

Most runs in Test cricket

Sachin Tendulkar (India) — 15921
Joe Root (England) — 13543*
Ricky Ponting (Australia) — 13378
Jacques Kallis (South Africa) — 13289
Rahul Dravid (India) — 13288

“To have gone past 13000 runs is a remarkable achievement, and he’s still going strong,” said Tendulkar.

“When I saw him for the first time in Nagpur in 2012 during his debut Test, I told my teammates that they were watching the future captain of England,” he recalled.

Sachin Tendulkar further mentioned the adaptability of Root and his impact on the game, mentioning the first instance of playing in India.

What impressed me most was the way he was able to assess the wicket and how he rotated the strike. I knew at that very moment that he would be a big player,” he said.

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Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar has strongly criticised the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for placing James Anderson’s name before Sachin Tendulkar’s in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, which has replaced the historic Pataudi Trophy.

The ECB recently announced the rebranding ahead of the ongoing five-match Test series in England.

While a Pataudi Medal will still be awarded to the winning captain, the actual series trophy has been renamed to honour Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson.

Gavaskar, in his Mid-Day column, criticised the decision to award the Pataudi medal to the winning captain, questioning what would occur if the series ended in a draw.

“Why the captain? And what if the series is drawn?” he questioned.

“It would have been better to have the Pataudi Medal for the Player of the Match in every Test, and the Pataudi Trophy for the Player of the Series.

“This way, the Pataudis will be remembered after every Test match played as well as after the series is finished in England.”

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Sunil Gavaskar did not stop there as he questioned the order of names in the new title, expressing surprise that Anderson’s name came before Tendulkar’s.

“The ECB is fully entitled to call the series by any name they choose, but for most, if not all, Indian cricket lovers, it is jarring to know that Anderson’s name comes first,” Gavaskar wrote.

“Not only is Sachin Tendulkar, along with Kapil Dev, the greatest Indian cricketer, but also senior to Anderson by more than a dozen years.

“I hope the Indian media and fans start calling it the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy, that’s how it should be.”

The former India captain also drew attention to the staggering difference in the cricketing legacies of both men.

“Tendulkar is numero uno as far as runs and centuries are concerned in Test cricket. Even at the one-day level, he has more runs than anybody else,” Gavaskar noted.

“Anderson is third in the list of wicket-takers in Test cricket, and his record is nowhere as good as Tendulkar’s in one-day cricket.

“Anderson was a terrific bowler, but mainly in English conditions. His record away is nowhere near as good as Tendulkar’s.”

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LEEDS: India batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar has revealed the genius ploy of captain Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant during the opening Test first innings against England.

Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant added a mammoth 209-run stand on the fourth wicket which put India in a commanding position.

Tendulkar, while analysing the duo’s partnership, highlighted the tactical conversation between them.

“I also noticed something interesting during Bashir’s spell. Shubman and Rishabh were speaking loudly in Hindi between deliveries. It was not just casual talk,’ he said on X (formerly Twitter).

“They were playing mind games with the bowler, trying to disrupt his rhythm. These minor details may not appear on the scoreboard, but they can have a significant impact on the game,” Tendulkar said of Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant.

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The little master heaped high praise on Rishab Pant for his batting while mentioning the southpaw’s trademark unconventional ‘falling sweep’.

“Rishabh’s falling paddle sweep is not accidental. It is intentional and extremely clever. Going down with the shot allows him to get under the ball and scoop it over leg slip with control,” Sachin Tendulkar wrote.

Rishabh Pant, who scored his seventh century in Test cricket, sometimes plays an unconventional ‘falling sweep’, a shot in which he often finds himself in an awkward condition.

Pant’s 136 off 178 balls, laced with a dozen boundaries and half a dozen maximums, featured the audacious ‘falling paddle sweep’ multiple times.

During his sublime century against England, Rishabh Pant broke multiple records.

The left-handed batter surpassed MS Dhoni, former Indian captain record of most Test centuries (6) as a wicketkeeper batter for India. Along with that, the 27-year-old now has 1,746 runs in SENA nations at an impressive average of 38.80 from 27 Tests, overtaking MS Dhoni.

Apart from this record, Rishabh Pant also became the first visiting wicketkeeper to score three centuries in England, while no other keeper has more than one hundred on English soil.

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Legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar has predicted that the Shubman Gill-led India will beat England 3-1 in the five-match Test series, set to commence tomorrow.

Following the retirement of Indian stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the captaincy reins were handed to 25-year-old Shubman Gill.

Speaking ahead of the much-anticipated series, Tendulkar suggested that Gill should shut the outside noise.

“My advice to him [Gill] would be that he should not worry about what x, y, z is saying,” Tendulkar said.

“His captaincy, whether Shubman is being aggressive, or defensive, or attacking enough, or not a proactive captain, or active captain – whatever that opinion is, it’s only an opinion and it’s from outside, he said of the young batter.

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Shubman Gill, who is still new to Test cricket and finding his feet in the longest format, faces the challenge of leading a team that has a huge void to fill in the absence of  Virat Kohli.

“I think what he needs to think about is what was discussed in the dressing room – when they are planning something, are they going according to that plan and whether the decision being made is in the interests of the team – that is what he needs to think about and not about the outside world, Sachin Tendulkar furhter emphasized.

The little master emphasised the thought process for Shubman Gill, noting that players should go out and express themselves.

“The outside world can only give opinions. These guys can go out and play as well, and only the dressing room will have that honour.

No one else will have that. I would say, just go out, it’s a huge honour, enjoy the moment and give your best for the country and do what is in the interest of the country. Other than that, I would say shut the doors to everything. I think that should be his thought process,” he concluded.

For context, India has not won a Test series in England since 2007. In their last series victory, Sachin Tendulkar was a vital cog, scoring an important 91 runs in the first innings of the second Test.

With his valuable contributions, India sealed the three-match series 1-0 under the captaincy of Rahul Dravid.

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