10.07 AM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

Cricket's master blaster OUT: India's Sachin Tendulkar quits ODIs

Sachin Tendulkar made 22 for Mumbai Indians during a Champions League T20 match against Sydney Sixers at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead in Durban bats on October 22, 2012. (AFP)

Published
By Staff with Agencies

Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has announced his retirement one-day internationals.

Tendulkar, 39, spoke to BCCI president N. Srinivasan and "conveyed his decision to retire from the one-day format of the game", the board said in a statement.

The Mumbai batsman is the world's top run-getter in one-day cricket, with 18,426 runs from 463 matches at an average of 44.83 with 49 centuries.

"I have decided to retire from the One Day format of the game," Tendulkar said in a statement according to ESPN Cricinfo . "I feel blessed to have fulfilled the dream of being part of a World Cup wining Indian team. The preparatory process to defend the World Cup in 2015 should begin early and in right earnest. I would like to wish the team all the very best for the future. I am eternally grateful to all my well wishers for their unconditional support and love over the years."

Tendulkar, who is also the highest scorer in Tests, said that he was quitting to allow the Indian selectors to build a team for the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

"The preparatory process to defend the World Cup in 2015 should begin early... I would like to wish the team all the very best for the future," he said.

It was unclear if Tendulkar will continue to play Test cricket, where he has scored a record 15,645 runs in 194 matches at an average of 54.32 with 51 centuries.

Click here to see: End of an era: Sachin Tendulkar in action

"Will rob the ODI series against Pak of some interest, but I think it is the right call made by Sachin..." tweeted veteran Indian cricket journalist Ayaz Memon.

Former chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth said he was shocked at the timing of the announcement.

"Sachin's announcement has come as a big surprise," Srikkanth told the CNN-IBN news channel. "I thought he would play in the one-day series against Pakistan."

"Conclusion of a sterling ODI career from a wonderful batsman. Congrats Sachin Tendulkar," tweeted South African opening batsman Hashim Amla.

"Statistics NEVER lie! They tell a very true story.. Well done Sachin! What an incredible ODI career.." tweeted England batsman Kevin Pietersen.

Teammate Yuvraj Singh, who shared dressing room with him for 12 years, tweeted: "Emotional time ! Letting sachin go from one dayers ! 18 thousand plus runs ur jaw drops when u c those records ,master u will always live"

Tendulkar has played ODIs only infrequently since India's World Cup triumph in April 2011.

Tendulkar finishes an illustrious career in the 50-over format, having played 463 ODIs, scored 18,426 runs and made 49 centuries, each of them a world record.

His last ODI was against Pakistan in Dhaka during the Asia Cup, where he made a half-century in India's victory.

It was only a few days earlier Times of India reported that he had told selectors he is available to play the upcoming one-day series against Pakistan and England, according to a TV channel.

The channel claimed Tendulkar, 39, had had a discussion with chairman of selectors Sandeep Patil.

The chorus for Tendulkar's retirement grew because of his extremely poor form with the bat in the four-Test series against England, in which he averaged only 18.66.

In fact during a poll conducted by Emirates 24|7 recently asking readers who among five world renowned sportsman should retire first, Sachin Tendulkar got a high percentage of 67 per cent.

Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao and golfer Tiger Woods were a distant 11 per cent followed Chelsea captain John Terry (6) and tennis great Rodger Federer (4).

Did you know "Sachin Tendulkar has scored most of his ODI runs against his favourite opposition Sri Lanka 3113 runs followed by 3077 against Aus" tweeted Azzam Ameen.

The ICC tweeted:

"Did you know Sachin Tendulkar made it to as high as number 2 in the all-rounders' table in ODIs in March 1996?"

"Sachin Tendulkar was the youngest to top the batting rankings for ODIs – at 8,346 days in February 1996"

"In his career, Sachin Tendulkar had been the top ranked batsman in ODIs for a total of 112 matches or 354 days"

"Sachin Tendulkar retires at number 28 in the Reliance ICC ODI Rankings for batsmen"

FACTFILE

Sachin Tendulkar factbox following his retirement from one-day internationals on Sunday:

  • Full name: Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.
  • Date of birth: April 24, 1973 (Mumbai, India).
  • Height: 1.65 metres
  • Major teams: India, Mumbai, Mumbai Indians, Yorkshire, Asia XI.
  • Nicknames: Little Master, Tendlya.
  • First-class debut: Mumbai vs. Gujarat, Mumbai, 1988.
  • Test debut: vs. Pakistan at Karachi, 1989.
  • ODI debut: vs. Pakistan at Gujranwala, 1989.
  • Maiden Test century: 119 not out vs. England at Old Trafford, Manchester in 1990 (9th Test appearance).
  • Maiden ODI century: 110 vs. Australia, Colombo, 1994 (79th ODI appearance).
  • First to score 100 international centuries (51 in Tests, 49 in one-dayers).

Some interesting facts about Tendulkar

Tendulkar wanted to be a fast bowler but was rejected by Australian great Dennis Lillee at the MRF Pace Academy at Chennai in 1987.

  • Was a ballboy during the 1987 World Cup on the Indian subcontinent.
  • Scored 326 in a 664-run partnership with former India player Vinod Kambli during an inter-school game in 1988.
  • Is the youngest Indian to play English county cricket, at 19, and was also Yorkshire's first overseas professional in 1992.
  • Scored tons on debut in all three major domestic first-class competitions: Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup.
  • His favourite sports star is not a cricketer but a tennis player, John McEnroe.
  • Batted in his debut Test at Karachi wearing pads presented by India's legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar.
  • Used a very heavy bat throughout his career — usually around 1.5 kilograms (3.2-3.3 pounds).
  • Scored five Test centuries before the age of 20.
  • His best year in ODIs was 1998 — nine centuries for 1,894 runs in that year.
  • Became a Member of Parliament in 2012 when he was nominated to India's higher house of Parliament - the Rajya Sabha.