1989 November 8 was the starting day of a new era in Europe's history.On that day the people with same culture separated by a wall for a long period reunited fulfilling their longrun wish throwing the wall fully into history.Yes the fall of Berlin Wall was on 8/11/1989.

At the same time a new era was also being going to start in the sports world .That was nothing but the selection of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar into Indian Test Cricket team.One week after the fall of Berlin Wall on November 15,1989 only 16 year old Tendulkar weared the test cap for India at Karachi against Pakistan.The career started there ,after creating many many histories and records had completed 20 years today.

"If cricket is a religion Sachin is the God".This was a declaration by some spectators in gallery during one of the matches of India , a few years ago.It had become a correct prediction now.As a batsman Sachin is a perfect 100.

Sachin was born on April 24,1973 as the younger son of Ramesh Tendulkar.Being a writer Ramesh named the baby as Sachin Tendulkar to honour the famous music director Sachin Dev Barman.Sachin was directed to cricket by his elder brother Ajith.When studying in Saradasramam Vidya Mandir,Mumbai Ramakanth Achrekar shaped the talents of Sachin.Actually Sachin wished to become a fast bowler and joined in MRF Pace Foundation for getting practice.But the coach Dennis Lilli recognised the batsman in Sachin and directed him to batting field.

The fellows of the baby in Indian cricket at that time was Allan Boarder,David Boon,Martin Crow,Richard Hadley,Malcom Marshal,Vivian Richards,Wasim Akram,Javed Miandad,Imran Khan,Graham Gooch,Mike Gating etc.The fellow players of Tendulkar in Indian team was also the icons of cricket Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev.

The Indian selectors found out this wonderful baby when he hit century for Mumbai in his maiden first class match against Gujarat.The centuries repeated in maiden matches of Renji Trophy,Duleep Trophy and Devdhar Trophy.Before these achievements he had already attracted the attention of selectors by a record partnership of 664 runs with Vinod Kambli in Lord Haris Shield Inter School Tournament for Saradasramam Vidya Mandir,Mumbai.

Sachin as a batsman has to face the evertime top pacers like Hadley,Imran Khan and Malcom Marshal.The bouncers,yorkers and googlies delivered by these pacers was easily sweeped out by the magic baby of India.Contrary to all cricket pandits calculations and expectations Sachin faced all bowlers of every team with full confidence and courage.Soon he caught attention of the whole world.All the variety bowling coming from a distance of 22 yards were boldly flew to the fence.There was no difference whether it is spin or fast.Also no difference whether it Australian or Pakistani.Thus he became the batting genius in modern cricket.The same cuts,pulls and cover drives of that days are still flowing from that bat aiming the fence of all stadiums in all over the world.The thirst of run of that bat is not fulfilled still now.All teams have been searching for a bowler to trap Sachin since his career start.After two decades also that batting genius's glow hadn't diminished by a point.World acknowledges him as a complete cricketer and aslo as the successor of Sir Donald Bradman.

The complete balance in batting,accuracy in movement and correctness in strokes made Sachin unique.Sachin ruled the ground by his front foot and back foot shots which reached the every nook and corner of the ground.Front foot or backfoot,legside or off side,Lords or Eden Gardens,Summer or winter - only Sachin was equal to Sachin.The best performance of Sachin was against the kings of cricket , Australia.He directed the wlld deliveries of Bret Lee and clever deliveries of Shane Worn to the ropes.

Sachin hit his first test century in his sweet seventeen at Old Trafford.That century  rescued India from losing the match.Within the age of 25 years sachin made 16 centuries.In 2000 AD Sachin became the first man to score 50 centuries in International Cricket.In 2008 he overtook the record of most test runs by Brian Lara.Between the run from records to records he became the top century scorer in both test matches and one day internationals.

Sachin is called as "Master Blaster".But he was also the most unfortunate batsman to be out in 90s.At 99 he was out thrice.He lost 23 one day international centuries by dismissal at 90s.This also is a record.

Awards & Appreciations:-

1) Rajive Gandhi Ghel Ratna Award

2) Arjuna Award

3) Padma Sree

4) Padma Bhushan

5)Rated as Second best batsman in both tests and ODIs by Wisdon

6) The only member of new generation in Don Bradman's dream eleven

7) The best batsman that I ever faced - Shayn Worn

Records of Sachin:-

1) Most number of runs in test matches (12773)

2) Most number of runs in ODI matches (17178)

3) Most number of centuries in test matches (42)

4) Most number of centuries in ODI matches (45)

5)  Most number of tests for India

6) Most number of half centuries in test matches (91)

7) Most number of half centuries in ODI matches (53)

8) 1000 runs in ODI in a calendar year - 7 times

9) Most number of runs in a calendar year - 1894

10) Man of the Match in ODI - 57 times

11) Man of the Series in ODI - 14 times

12) Total runs in World Cup : 1796

13) Most number of Man of the Match in world cup

14) Continuous ODI matches - 185

Career Statics:-

First Test Match : 1989 November 15 at Karachi against Pakistan
First Oneday Match : 1989 December 18 at GujranWala against Pakistan

Batting:-

Test    Innings    Notout    Runs    Highest    Average    Century    Half century
159      261              27      12773    248*         54.58           42              91

ODI    Innings    Notout    Runs    Highest    Average    Century    Half century
436       425            39       17178    186*          44.5            45             53

Bowling:-

Test    Innings    Wicket    Best    Average    Economy
159    127               44        3/10    51.63         3.46

ODI    Innings    Wicket    Best    Average    Economy
436      267           154       5/32      44.26         5.1

In career length he is at 16th position in the world.He had the record of playing maximum number of test matches.He will put on his pad for his 160th test match tomorrow against Srilanka.After 20 years of batting Sachin have still a youth for another fight.The recent 174 against Australia is an indication to this fighting mentality.All Indians and the whole world beleives that the willow piece in the hands of Sachin will create another symphony to force the world to dance again.