Cricket History and Facts

Sachin scored 9 ODI centuries in 1998, setting the record for most centuries in a calendar year. This record stood until Rohit Sharma equalled it in 2019.

Before Sachin's 200*, 9 batsmen had scored 200+ in List A cricket. His was the first in international men's ODIs, making this a historic milestone.

Sachin surpassed Viv Richards' record for most Man of the Match awards in ODIs. Richards had dominated this statistic through the 1980s before Sachin overtook him.

Viv Richards scored 189* and 181 in ODIs, making him the first to score 180+ twice. Sachin later joined this elite club with 186* and 200*.

Navjot Sidhu held the Indian record for most ODI centuries with 7 before Sachin surpassed him in 1996. This marked the changing of the guard in Indian cricket.

Sanath Jayasuriya held the previous record with 24 fours during his famous 189-run innings against India in 2000. Sachin surpassed this with 25 fours in his 200*, setting a new benchmark for boundaries in an ODI innings.

Sanath Jayasuriya held the joint record with four ODI scores of 150 or more runs. When Sachin scored his unbeaten 200 (his fifth 150+ score), he broke this deadlock and went solo as the sole record holder.

Javed Miandad participated in six ODI World Cups (1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1996), which is the highest by any cricketer. Sachin played in five World Cups (1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007), making him second on this prestigious list.

Vinod Kambli was the first batsman to score an ODI century on his birthday (his 22nd birthday) vs Zimbabwe in 1993. Sachin became the second to achieve this unique feat when he scored 134 vs Australia on his birthday (April 24, 1998).

Sachin Tendulkar scored 523 runs in the 1996 World Cup. This was his first World Cup tournament and he established himself as a key batsman. The 1996 World Cup was jointly hosted by India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. 498, 543, and 586 are not the correct totals.

Kapil Dev, the legendary Indian fast bowler and captain who led India to its first World Cup victory in 1983, was nicknamed 'The Haryana Hurricane' for his aggressive pace bowling and origins from Haryana. Rahul Dravid, Dhoni, and Gautam Gambhir have different nicknames.

Anil Kumble, the legendary Indian spinner, earned the title 'The Legend of Indian Cricket' for his remarkable achievements - he's one of the highest wicket-takers in Test cricket and known for his fierce competitiveness. While Tendulkar, Ganguly, and Srinath are all legends, the specific title 'The Legend' is most associated with Kumble's bowling legacy.

Yuvraj Singh, known for his six-hitting ability and stellar performances in ICC tournaments (especially 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 World Cup), earned the title 'Maharaja of Indian Cricket'. His royal treatment by fans and match-winning contributions justify this epithet. Sehwag, Sreesanth, and Ganguly have different nicknames.

All four titles are associated with Sachin Tendulkar. 'God of Cricket' is his most famous epithet. 'The Little Master' (originally Sunil Gavaskar's title) is also applied to Sachin. 'The Legend of Indian Cricket' accurately describes his status. 'The Bombay Bomber' refers to his Mumbai origins and aggressive batting style.