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Rahul Sharad Dravid known as Rahul to the cricketing fraternity was born on 11.01.73 at Indore, Madhya Pradesh and learnt his cricketing lessons in Karnataka. He was also nicknamed Wall by cricketing experts for his ability to stay at the crease.

Rahul’s exploits are too many and he is a Cricket Statistician’s delight. Here are few of his test records.

Rahul Dravid made his test debut against England at Lord’s in June 1996. He made 95 on his test debut, while another debutant SC Ganguly scored a hundred {131} on debut in this test. This Lord’s test has gone into the annals of test cricket as the second test in which two debutant batsmen scored a ninety and hundred. The first test was the Karachi test between Pakistan and Australia in Oct 1964 when two Pakistan debutants – Khalid Ibadulla {166} and Abdul Kadir {95} scored a hundred and ninety.

He has scored five double hundreds – 200 not out against Zimbabwe at Delhi in Nov 2000, 217 against England at The Oval in Sep 2002, 222 against New Zealand at Ahmedabad in Oct 2003, 233 against Australia at Adelaide in Dec 2003 and 270 against Pakistan at Rawalpindi in Apr 2004. His five double hundreds are in the progressive order of runs scored which makes him the only batsman to perform such a feat in the annals of test cricket.

He has scored a fifty and double hundreds on three occasions which is furnished below. He is the only batsman in the annals of test cricket to perform such a feat on three occasions

He has scored hundred in each innings of the test match on two occasions – 190 and 103 not out vs. New Zealand at Hamilton in Jan 1999 and 110 and 135 vs. Pakistan at Kolkota in Mar 2005. He is the second Indian batsman after SM Gavaskar to perform such a feat on two or more occasions. SM Gavaskar has achieved this feat on three occasions

He is the only batsman in the annals of test cricket to aggregate 10000 plus runs while batting at number three. His has an aggregate of 10524 runs to his credit

He has scored 50 half centuries while batting at number three and is the only batsman to score 50 half centuries while batting at number three in the annals of test cricket

He holds the record for most number of fifties while batting number three. He has scored 78 fifties. He is one of the two batsmen who have scored 75 plus fifties while batting at number three in the annals of test cricket. RT Ponting is the other batsman who has scored 75 fifties while batting at number three.

He has scored ten nineties in tests and shares the record for most nineties with SR Tendulkar of India and SR Waugh of Australia

He has scored 5031 runs in India’s 56 winning tests. He is seventh batsman in the annals of test cricket to score 5000 plus runs in a team’s winning tests. He is the second Indian batsman to perform such a feat after SR Tendulkar who has scored 5594 runs in India’s 63 winnings tests

He is the third Indian batsman to aggregate 5000 plus runs on home soil. He has an aggregate of 5598 runs. The other two are – SR Tendulkar {6765} and SM Gavaskar {5067}

He is one of the two batsmen in the annals of test cricket to score 7500 plus runs on away soil. He has an aggregate of 7690 runs on away soil. SR Tendulkar with 8705 runs is the other batsman.

He has scored 36 half centuries on away soil and shares the record for most half centuries on away soil with SR Tendulkar who also has scored 36 half centuries

He is one of the two batsmen who have scored 21 or more hundreds on away soil. He has scored 21 hundreds; SR Tendulkar with 29 hundreds is the other batsman to score 20 plus hundreds on away soil.

He is one among the three Indian batsmen who have scored three double hundreds on away soil. Others are – SR Tendulkar and V Sehwag

He is one among the 16 batsmen in the annals of test cricket to score 15 or more hundreds on home soil. He has scored 15 hundreds on home soil. He is also the third Indian batsmen to perform such a feat, others are – SR Tendulkar {22} and SM Gavaskar {16}

He is one of the three batsmen who have been dismissed for a double nelson – 222 – in a test innings. He scored 222 against New Zealand at Ahmedabad in Oct 2003. Others are – GR Viswanath of India vs. England at Chennai in Jan 1982 and NJ Astle of New Zealand vs. England at Christchurch in Mar 2002

He is the only fieldsman to pouch 200 plus catches in the annals of test cricket. He has pouched 210 catches. He has pouched 112 catches on away soil and remains the only fieldsman to pouch 100 plus catches on away soil.

He is the only fieldsman in the annals of test cricket to pouch 50 plus cathes of two bowlers – A Kumble {55} and Harbhajan Singh {51}

He is one of the four batsmen who have scored 60 plus half centuries in the annals of test cricket. He has scored 63 half centuries. Others are – SR Tendulkar {65}, AR Border {63} and RT Ponting {61}. Thus he shares the second place with AR Border for most half centuies by a batsman – both of them scoring 63 half centuries

He stands third in the list of batsmen who have scored most fifties in the annals of test cricket. The three batsmen are – SR Tendulkar {116}, RT Ponting {102} and R Dravid {99}

He shares the record for most partnership runs with SR Tendulkar in tests. Both of them have shared 6920 partnership runs in 143 innings. They share 20 three figure partnerships which is a record in itself for most number of century stands in the annals of test cricket

He has partnered Tendulkar on 143 occasions which is next to 148 occasions partnered by DL Haynes and CG Greenidge

R Dravid and SR Tendulkar share 29 half century partnerships which is a record for most half century stands between two batsmen in the annals of test cricket.  ML Hayden and JL Langer shared 28 half century stands.

R Dravid and SR Tendulkar through their 29 half century partnerships have added 2137 runs. They are the only pair to add 2000 plus runs through the half century stand in test cricket

He has partnered 49 fifty plus runs partnerships with SR Tendulkar which is also a record for most fifty plus runs partnerships in the annals of test cricket

R Dravid has been one of the partners in a three figure partnership on 88 occasions and shares the record for most three figure stands in tests.

He is one of the four Indian batsmen who have scored four hundreds in consecutive tests. His feat read thus – 13 and 115 vs. England at Nottingham in Aug 2002; 148 vs. England at Leeds in Aug 2002; 217 vs. England at The Oval in Sep 2002 and 100* vs. West Indies at Mumbai in Oct 2002. Other Indian batsmen to perform such a feat are – G Gautham {05}, SM Gavaskar {04} and SR Tendulkar {04}. His career summary read thus –

He is one of the few batsmen who have scored a hundred against every opposition he played against.

R Dravid and V Sehwag added 410 runs against Pakistan for the first wicket at Lahore in Jan 2006. This stand is one of the three stands of 400 plus runs for the first wicket as on date. The other two stands are – 415 runs between GC Smith and ND McKenzie of South Africa against Bangladesh at Chittagong in Feb 2008 and 413 runs between MH Mankad and P Roy of India against New Zealand at Chennai in Jan 1956

In India’s innings against South Africa at Chennai in Mar 08, for the first wicket there was a 213 runs partnership between Wasim Jaffer and V Sehwag. For the second wicket there was another 200 plus run partnership – 268 runs stand between V Sehwag and R Dravid. For the first time in the annals of test cricket 200 plus runs for the first two wickets were registered in the same test innings

This feat was repeated again by Indian batsmen at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai against Sri Lanka in the third test of 2009-10 test series. M Vijay and V Sehwag added 221 runs for the first wicket which was followed by 237 runs stand for the second wicket between V Sehwag and R Dravid for the second wicket

R Dravid became the first cricketer to play his 100th test while batting at number three on home ground. His 100th test was against Australia at Bangalore in 2008.

Dravid had partnered 4000 plus runs with two batsmen. Tendulkar is the other Indian batsman to achieve such a feat. The performances of these two batsmen are furnished below

He holds the record for most partnership runs for the third wicket with SR Tendulkar in the annals of test cricket. The pair has added 5826 runs from 123 innings. They remain the only pair to add 5000 plus runs for the third wicket.

R Dravid-SR Tendulkar has shared 18 three figure stands which is also a record for most number of century stands for the third wicket. They also shared 23 half century partnerships for the third which is a record for most half century stands for the third wicket. They shared 41 fifty plus runs stands for the third wicket which is also a record for most number of century stands for the third wicket

R Dravid figures in four partnerships of 300 plus runs for various wickets which is a record for Indian batsman. The following table furnishes the four occasions

He has faced most balls than any other batsman in aggregating 13288 runs. He is the only batsman to fave 30000 deliveries – 31258 to be precise.

R Dravid and VVS Laxman have forged two partnerships of 300 plus runs – both against Australia – 376 runs for the fifth wicket at Kolkata in Mar 2001 and 303 runs for the fifth wicket at Adeliade in Dec 2003. They remain the only pair in the annals of test cricket to have put on 300 plus runs for the same wicket and against the same opposition.

Added to this record he has to his credit another 300 plus runs partnership for the fourth wicket with SR Tendulkar against Australia at Sydney in Jan 2004.

He is one of the six batsmen in the annals of test cricket to have partnered a 300 plus runs partnerships on four or more occasions. Others are – DG Bradman (05}, HH Gibbs (04}, GC Smith {04}, RT Ponting {04} and DPMD Jayawardene {04}. The performance of these four batsmen are furnished in the following table

He holds the record for most occasions of bowled dismissals in a test innings. He has been bowled on 55 occasions. R Dravid {55} and AR Border {53} are the only two batsmen who have been dismissed bowled on 50 plus occasions in the annals of test cricket

His partnership of 410 runs with V Sehwag for the first wicket against Pakistan at Karachi in Jan 2006 is one of the fourteen partnerships of 400 plus runs in the annals of test cricket and second by India. The other partnership is – 413 runs between MH Mankad and P Roy of India against New Zealand at Chennai {Nehru Stadium} in Jan 1956

R Dravid has partnered 214 fifty plus runs partnerships for various wickets with 33 partners which are listed below. He is the only batsman in the annals of test cricket to partner 200 plus fifty plus partnerships

R Dravid earned the distinction of becoming the fifth fieldsman in the annals of test cricket to pouch 13 catches in a test series. His feat provides the sixth such occasion. He achieved the distinction against Australia in 2004-05 test series. What is interesting is that R Dravid’s 13 catches came in four tests while the other five who are in this elite list have done in five or more tests.

Dravid’s 13 catches represents the most catches held in a series against Australia by a fielder from any country. The previous best tally of catches in a series against Australia was 12. Five fielders had jointly held this record. They are LC Braund of Eng in 1901-02, WR Hammond of Eng in 1934, GS Sobers of Win in 1960-61, AW Greig of Eng in 1974-75 and  IT Botham of Eng in 1981

Dravid became the fourth Indian fieldsman to pouch ten or more catches in a test series. It is the fifth such occasion by an Indian fieldsman.  His effort is the best by an Indian fieldsman in a test series. The previous best was by ED Solkar who had pouched 12 catches in 1972-73 series against England.

Dravid’s effort of 13 catches in four test makes him the third fieldsman to pouch ten or more catches in four tests. Others are – ED Solkar – 10 catches against Australia in 1969-60 and AL Wadekar – 10 catches against New Zealand in 1993-94

His 88 three figure partnerships with various partners which is a world record for most three figure stands

Rahul’s profile on cricinfo appears thus – Rahul Dravid was probably one of the last classical Test match batsmen. His progress into the national side may have been steady and methodical rather than meteoric, but once there, Dravid established himself at the vanguard of a new, defiant generation that were no longer easybeats away from home. Armed with an orthodox technique drilled into him by Keki Tarapore, he became the cement that held the foundations firm while the flair players expressed themselves. Yet, for a man quickly stereotyped as one-paced and one-dimensional, he too could stroke the ball around when the mood struck him.

Never a natural athlete, he compensated with sheer hard work and powers of concentration that were almost yogic. At Adelaide in 2003, when India won a Test in Australia for the first time in a generation, he batted 835 minutes over two innings. A few months later, he was at the crease more than 12 hours for the 270 that clinched India’s first series win in Pakistan. Initially seen as a liability in the one-day arena, he retooled his game over the years to become an adept middle-order finisher. The heaves and swipes didn’t come naturally, but by the time the selectors eased him aside in early 2008, he had more than 10,000 runs to his name in the 50-over game. There had also been a lengthy phase where he donned the wicketkeeping gloves, helping the team to find a balance that was crucial in the run to the World Cup final in 2003.

However, it’s his Test exploits that he will be most remembered for. After impressing in a Lord’s debut where he was eclipsed by Sourav Ganguly, Dravid’s breakthrough innings arrived at the Wanderers a few months later, against a South African attack accustomed to bullying visitors. A brief slump followed, but he emerged from that with perhaps one of the most famous supporting acts of all, to VVS Laxman in an Eden Gardens Test that rejuvenated Indian cricket. The half decade that followed was a golden one with the bat, as tours of England and Australia realised more than 600 runs.

A two-year stint as captain, following Ganguly’s axing, was less successful, though he did lead the side to series victories in England and the West Indies for the first time in a generation. Just when it seemed his best was behind him, Dravid showed his class once again on the tour to England in 2011. In a series in which India were completely outplayed and none of their other batsmen scored more than 275 runs in the Tests, Dravid amassed 461, including three hundreds, two of them when opening the innings against a high-quality pace attack. However, that was followed by a poor series in Australia, which turned out to be his last, as he announced his retirement soon after returning to India.

Dravid’s immense levels of concentration also came in handy when he was standing in the slips. Most of his catches were taken in that cordon as he overtook Mark Waugh to become the most successful slip catcher in history.

Some call him the wolf who lived for the pack, many The Wall and a few even term him the complete cricketer.

Featured in 164 Tests, 334 ODIs and one T20I in an illustrious career which spanned for over 16 years. He holds the record for facing the maximum deliveries in Test cricket. He faced a total of 31,258 balls, almost 3,000 deliveries more than Sachin Tendulkar in Test cricket.

Widely regarded for his batting prowess in the Test format where he scored 13,288 runs at a staggering average of 52.31 including 36 hundreds. An impeccable white-ball player too as he accumulated 10,889 runs in 334 ODIs at an average of 39.16, including 12 centuries.

He has also spent 44,152 minutes at the crease in Tests which equals to almost 736 hours, the most by any Test cricketer.

Here’s a look at some of the most adorable quotes on one of the game’s best team man – RAHUL DRAVID.

​​“The way you batted always created huge jams for the bowlers. Have a great one my friend,” tweeted Sachin Tendulkar.

The duo scored more partnership runs and forged more hundred run stands than any other batting pair — 6,920 runs with 20 century stands — both are world records.

“From my understanding, I thought grinding only happens in the kitchen in the mixer grinder, but Dravid taught one can grind on the cricket pitch as well. We had it all when we had the Wall ! Virender Sehwag

Try to take his wicket in the first 15 minutes. If you can’t then only try to take the remaining wickets – Steve Waugh

“Rahul Dravid’s contribution to Indian cricket is like a House wife’s contribution to the family. The worth is only known when she is absent…Happy Birthday RAHUL DRAVID.” – Virat Kohli

“We had it all when we had ‘The Wall'” – Source: Twitter

“​Dravid showed how to lead life and the attitude a player should have” – Suresh Raina

“Some succeeded because they are destined to but he succeeded because he was determined to” – Navjot Singh Sidhu

​“He deserves his success as he has worked hard for it. He is one of the most down to earth and disciplined professionals I’ve met” – Mahesh Bhupathi

“India were down in the dumps when Rahul played that innings. In a situation like that, it takes strength of character, talent and temperament to play to your strengths and not get overawed by the blazing strokes being played at the other end” – Sunil Gavaskar

“Rahul has always found time to work on his mistakes, even in these days of non-stop international cricket. He is quick to spot mistakes and quicker in rectifying them. This has enabled him to get out of a bad patch quicker than other” – Gundappa Viswanath

​“He is truly the mainstay of the Indian batting. He is the best batsman of India in this era undoubtedly” – Kapil Dev

​“Even though Sachin is great, I have always found Rahul more solid and hard to get out” – Shoaib Akhtar

“​Guys like him (Rahul Dravid)… it’s not even advisable to think that they will be replaced by some other youngsters. Youngsters will be under tremendous pressure if they start to think like that” – MS Dhoni

“I’ve seen how Rahul goes about his innings and that’s something I want to get myself involved with” – Kevin Pietersen

“Rahul is the kind of person who young cricketers can look up to; not only because of his success but also because of the way he conducts himself” – Steve Waugh

“All these things going around is not called aggression. If you really want to see aggression, look into Dravid’s eyes” – Matthew Hayden

“He is regarded by the Australians as one of the mentally toughest players they have come up against. He is a tough task competitor. He is a wonderful cricketer for India, a great, great cricketer” – John Wright

​“Rahul loves to read biographies of sports personalities, not necessarily cricketers. He has always been very interested in finding out how different sports personalities prepare themselves “mentally” before big events. I have never net anyone so focussed. It is extremely difficult to get through to him even when he is reading a book or watching television. I have to say, I pity his wife” – Andrew Leipus

​“Everyone praises Sachin Tendulkar. He may be a genius in his own right but in my book, Rahul Dravid is the artist. Dravid’s defence tactics, his strokes, his cuts, his grace are truly amazing. I’d like to meet the chap sometime and take my hat off to him” – Peter O’Toole

“If you can’t get along with Dravid, you’re struggling in life” – Brett Lee

“Now I find myself coming in after Rahul, a job so huge that India has traditionally left it to Sachin Tendulkar. By that marker, I can really only disappoint” – Gideon Haigh

“​Rahul Dravid being known as ‘The Wall’ is pretty much spot on. ‘The fortress’ could also describe Rahul. Because once Dravid was set, you needed the bowling equivalent of a dozen cannon firing all at once to blast him down” – Shane Warne

“​Dravid has been a class player for a long time now and we know his ability better than anyone. He’s not like the other guys who love scoring off every ball and there’s no real weakness in his game either” – Glenn McGrath

“Rahul’s committment to Indian cricket is summed up by the fact that he has been keeping wickets in ODIs because the team needs it, and not because he likes it or is the best at it” – Murali Kartik

“Rahul has always been in the shadow of Sachin. If you take his record it’s as good as Sachin’s buy you cannot compare both as they are different kind of players. Rahul is a complete cricketer”- Muttiah Muralitharan

“If I packed only two sets of informal clothes, he would rotate them through an entire tour if he had to and not think about it. He doesn’t care for gadgets and barely registers brands of watches, cologne or cars. But if the weight of his bat is off by a gram, he would notice it in an instant and get the problem fixed” – Vijeeta Dravid

​“If a martian were to land on earth now and be told that the best batsman in the world was playing in this match, he would think it was Rahul Dravid and not Sachin Tendulkar” – Christopher Martin-Jenkins

“​A few years ago, when they were all still playing Tests, I was asked this question while doing commentary: “Crofty, if you had to choose between Brian Lara, Steve Waugh or Sachin Tendulkar, to bat to save your life, which one would you go for?” What a very difficult question that is! You know how Trinbagonians like to say; “Yuh askin’ answers or whuh?” But, this is not Jeopardy! My reply to that question was not even in the given choices. As brilliant as those three have been, only Sachin is still playing. I would not nominate either to bat for my life, even as enjoyable as it might be. I could not select any of them, not if Rahul Sharad Dravid might also be available” – Colin Croft

​“He’s probably the nicest guy. No, he is the nicest guy that I have met in cricket. He is a phenomenal man” – Shane Watson

“​Everyone has already exhausted superlatives so I would not bother myself with any additional praise but you could be sure my admiration for him has grown tremendously”- Allan Border

“For me, an ideal Dravid innings needs a most challenging pitch. It it’s a batting beauty with the ball coming on to the bat, give me Sehwag or Laxman; if there’s a truly great array of bowlers set to be unleased, give me Tendulkar. If it’s a minefield, give me Dravid” – Siddhartha Vaidyanathan for Cricinfo

“After he got through the first 15-20 minutes, it became just another Ranji Trophy game for him” – Venkatapathy Raju

“My approach to cricket has been reasonably simple: it was about giving everything to the team, was about playing with dignity and was about upholding the spirit of the game. I hope I have done some of that” – Rahul Dravid

“He has a lovely style of batting. He has silken strokes and to me looks like a traditional player. I would go any length to watch him” – Martin Crowe

“I was considered a one-day specialist until then. I remember Rahul telling me before that game to concentrate on Test cricket, as success in that format defined a true cricketer more than success in ODIs – Virender Sehwag

“If I have to put anyone to bat for my life, it’ll be Kallis or Dravid” – Brian Lara

“​Dravid could play attacking cricket like me but I could never play like him” – Chris Gayle

​“Rahul respects the game, which is why we cricketers respect him. He doesn’t play “games” with game” – Ashok Mankad

‘Jam’ was a great character to have in the dressing room. He was someone who loved challenges, whatever was thrown to him throughout his career – whether he was asked to open because of any reason or was asked to keep wickets” – MS Dhoni

“Champion on and off the field, showed up with his great hard work, sky is the limit” – Mahesh Bhupathi

“As at Lord’s Dravid’s bat had a mellow ring to it and even his defensive strokes had the hallmark of class” – David Field

“Rahul Dravid is a player who would walk on broken glass if his team asks him to” – Navjot Singh Sidhu

“Rahul made me realise that there are times when a match-saving innings can be as crucial as a match-winning one” – Akash Chopra

“For a career full of grace, charm, timing and poise, it was sad that it had to end with a slog. Buy that was once again, what the team just needed” – Harsha Bhogle

“​Rahul’s willingness to learn and expand his horizons has made him a highly successful cricketer” – Sunil Gavaskar

​​“It is not an exaggeration to say that a whole strand of the game – a rich vein that runs through the game’s poetic heart – departs the scene with India’s greatest-ever No.3. Playing T20 cricket won’t teach anyone to become the next Rahul Dravid” – Ed Smith

“Dravid is a perfect role model for youngsters. He has set a great example for all of us to follow. We are all trying to follow that path” – Sachin Tendulkar

I’m still learning about coaching and dealing with players – what kind of messages to give, when is the time to intervene, what is a good way to intervene. It is about getting people match-ready. You have a few conversations with people on the specific things you might notice, but you are not really looking to make too many changes and trying to change people’s techniques or actions or grips” –

Rahul Dravid in an interview after the team mentored by him won the U-19 World Cup in February 2018

“Team in trouble? Whom do you turn to? Rahul Dravid!” – Ian Chappell

“This is what Rahul Dravid wrote on his career statistics presented to him by Statistician HR Gopala Krishna on his felicitation on 21.03.12 by Karnataka State Cricket Association

“To Gopal – Thank you for your dedication and love of statistics that records our performances” – Rahul Dravid

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If there’s one cricketer in the world that nobody hates, I’m pretty sure it’s Rahul Dravid. He is respected by everyone around the world. Not because of his successful cricket career, but because of the kind of person he is. Indian Cricket wouldn’t be the way it is now if it weren’t for ‘The Wall’, Rahul Dravid.

“Knew the man behind the bat. Not often do you find a person as exceptional as his achievements.” – Sanjay Manjrekar

“He’s probably the nicest guy – no, he is the nicest guy – that I’ve met in cricket. He’s a phenomenal man. He loves the game with so much passion, it’s in his blood and in his heart.” – Shane Watson

“Some succeed because they are destined to, but Rahul Dravid succeeded because he was DETERMINED to.” – Navjot Singh Sidhu

“Rahul Dravid being known as ‘The Wall’ is pretty spot on. ‘The Fortress’ could also describe him. Because once Rahul was set, you need a bowling equivalent of a dozen cannon blasting all at once to blast him down.”  – Shane Warne

“Rahul is the kind of person who young cricketers can look up to; not only because of his success, but also because the way he conducts himself.” – Steve Waugh

“Dravid Could play attacking cricket like me but i could never play like him” – Chris Gayle

“The wolf who lived for the pack.” – Harsha Bhogle

“Even though Sachin is great, I have always found Rahul more solid and hard to get out. He has a solid defense and plays less shots than others. When a batsman plays less shots then it is tough to get him as he makes less mistakes.” – Shoaib Akhtar

“If Tendulkar’s life is about enthusiasm, Dravid’s is about determination. If Tendulkar is the child splashing colour about with glee, Dravid is the scientist in a relentless search for progress. He might seem weighed down but that is his style and it is a style that has served him and his team handsomely for almost 15 years. Tendulkar might have been a Formula One driver or a striker in a goalmouth, Dravid would have been an Olympic shooter.” – – Harsha Bhogle

“If you can’t get along with Dravid, you’re struggling in life” – Brett Lee

“Met with a man called THE WALL in cricket RAHUL bhai @Im_Dravid he is a great human being always there to talk about cricket & helping u out , honoured to play with him in the Feild & always pleasure to meet U , stay blessed.” – Mohammad Hafeez

“If I have to put anyone to bat for my life, it’ll be Kallis or Dravid” – Brian Lara

“If there was one Indian player who could get a direct entry into the famous Australian team of the late 90s, it would be Rahul Dravid.” – Glenn McGrath

But the best quote about Rahul Dravid comes from his wife, Vijeta Pendharkar. “If I packed only two sets of informal clothes, he would rotate them through an entire tour if he had to and not think about it. He doesn’t care for gadgets, and barely registers brands – of watches, cologne or cars. But if the weight of his bat was off by a gram, he would notice it in an instant and get the problem fixed” – Vijeta Pendharkar

 ‘Master Blaster’, ‘Little Master’, ‘The God of Cricket’, ‘The World’s Best Athlete’ — these are the titles bestowed upon one of India’s most revered personalities: Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. His is a name that all Indians, and a many people the world over, know and worship. Every time this legend took the crease, the country would reverberate with the chants of ‘Sachin, Sachin!’. All differences and squabbles between a billion people were forgotten for the sheer pleasure of watching this genius decimate the best bowlers on the planet with an inimitable grace. He united over a billion belligerent people in a way that no one and nothing ever has, and probably never will. It is no secret that cricket is a religion in India, and Sachin Tendulkar its most exalted God.

Image credit: Creative Commons

In a 24-year career, Tendulkar has set incredible records that include the ‘most runs scored in international cricket’, ‘most centuries in international cricket’, and ‘most Man-of-the-Match awards’, besides many, many more. He has inspired an entire generation of cricketers and won the admiration of his colleagues and the sport’s erstwhile icons. And, despite all this fame and adulation he received, Tendulkar remained as humble as he was in the earliest days of his magnificent career.

We look at what the world has had to say about its most celebrated sportsmen.

“Sachin Tendulkar has often reminded me of a veteran army colonel who has many medals on his chest to show how he has conquered bowlers all over the world.” — Allan Donald

“I think he is marvellous. I think he will fit in whatever category of cricket that has been played or will be played, from the first ball that has ever been bowled to the last ball that’s going to be. He can play in any era and at any level. I would say he’s 99.5% perfect.” — Sir Vivian Richards “I don’t think anyone, apart from Don Bradman, is in the same class as Sachin Tendulkar.” —Shane Warne

“Beneath the helmet, under that unruly curly hair, inside the cranium, there is something we don’t know, something beyond scientific measure. Something that allows him to soar, to roam a territory of sport that, forget us, even those who are gifted enough to play alongside him cannot even fathom. When he goes out to bat, people switch on their television sets and switch off their lives.” — BBC Sports

“On a train from Shimla to Delhi, there was a halt at one of the stations. The train stopped by for few minutes as usual. Sachin was nearing a century, batting on 98. The passengers, railway officials, everyone on the train waited for Sachin to complete the century. This genius can stop time in India!” — Peter Roebuck

“I saw him (Sachin) playing on television and was struck by his technique, so I asked my wife to come look at him. Now I never saw myself play, but I feel that this player is playing much the same as I used to play, and she looked at him on television and said yes, there is a similarity between the two…his compactness, technique, stroke production… it all seemed to gel.” — Sir Donald Bradman

“I have seen God, he bats at no. 4 for India.” — Matthew Hayden

“Nothing bad can happen to us if we’re on a plane in India with Sachin Tendulkar on it.” — Hashim Amla

“There are two kinds of batsmen in the world. One, Sachin Tendulkar. Two, all the others.” — Andy Flower

“The only batsman I would love to see by paying for the tickets and sitting in the stand just to watch him is none other than Sachin Tendulkar.” — Brian Lara

“We did not lose to a team called India, we lost to a man called Sachin.” — Mark Taylor

“Commit all your crimes when Sachin is batting. They will go unnoticed because even the Lord is watching.” — A placard at the Sydney Cricket Ground “If I’ve to bowl to Sachin, I’ll bowl with my helmet on. He hits the ball so hard.” — Dennis Lillee.

“When you bowl at him you are not just trying to get him out, you are trying to impress him. I want him to walk off thinking ‘that Flintoff, he’s all right isn’t he?’ I feel privileged to have played against him.” — Andrew Flintoff

“Don’t bowl him bad balls, he hits the good ones for fours.” — Michael Kasprowicz

“He’s been in form longer than some of our guys have been alive.” — Daniel Vettori

“We have had champions, we have had legends, but we have never had another Sachin Tendulkar and we never will.” — TIME magazine

“I don’t know cricket, I don’t know how Sachin plays. But I still try to watch him playing because I want to know why my country’s economy goes down 0.5% when he’s batting.” — Barack Obama (former US President)

“Sachin Tendulkar, the Little Master, is so talented that wherever you’re from, you can’t help but admire him as he hits another century.” — David Cameron (former UK Prime Minister)

“I have delayed my shoots many times to watch Sachin bat.” — Amitabh Bachchan

“I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing us to breathe the same air as you do.” — Shahrukh Khan

“I had to remind Gary Kristen often that he was in the covers to field against Sachin and not to applaud him.” — Hansie Cronje

“When we were growing up, we all used to watch Sachin. He was like God to us, he had that aura around him.” — MS Dhoni

“In cricket, my superhero is Sachin Tendulkar. He has always been my hero and will continue to remain so.” — Virat Kohli

“Gentlemen, he is the best batsman I have seen in my life. And unlike most of you, I have seen Bradman bat.” — John Woodcock (English journalist) “Even if my grandchildren don’t remember the fact that I scored 10,000 runs in One Day and Test cricket, they will surely remember the fact that I was a team mate of Sachin Tendulkar.” — Rahul Dravid

“You get him out and half the battle is won.” — Arjuna Ranatunga

“I’m fortunate that I’ve to bowl to him only in the nets.” — Anil Kumble

“Cricketers like Sachin come once in a lifetime and I am privileged he played in my time.” — Wasim Akram

“Test cricket is bloody hard work, especially if you’ve got Sachin batting with what looks like a three-metre-wide bat.” — Mike Hussey

“If Sachin bats well, India sleeps well.” — Harsha Bhogle

“When you play against Tendulkar, you almost want to see him get a few runs just to see him bat.” — Mark Waugh

“I never get tired of umpiring whenever Sachin is at the crease.” — Rudy Koertzen

“He is a perfectly balanced batsman and knows perfectly well when to attack and when to play defensive cricket. He has developed the ability to treat bowlers all over the world with contempt and can destroy any attack with utmost ease.” – Greg Chappell

“Technically, you can’t fault Sachin. Seam or spin, fast or slow nothing is a problem.” – Geoffrey Boycot

“Sachin was so focused. He never looked like getting out. He was batting with single-minded devotion. It was truly remarkable. It was a lesson.” – Martina Navratilova (legendary tennis player)

“The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter… is he human?” – Michael Atherton

“The thing I like the most about Sachin is his intensity. After being in the game for so long, he still has the same desire to do well for India in any international match. I tell you what, this man is a legend.” – Sourav Ganguly

“The joy he brings to the millions of his countrymen, the grace with which he handles all the adulation and the expectations and his innate humility – all make for a one-in-a-billion individual.” – Glenn McGrath

“When we used to play, we thought no one can break Sunil Gavaskar’s record. No one could think about 50 Test centuries at that time. This is certainly a big knock under the circumstances, better than the 200s and 300s.” – Kapil Dev (on Tendulkar’s 50th Test hundred)

“He is someone sent from up there to play cricket and go back.” — Ravi Shastri

“You can’t contain Sachin’s deeds in a statistical frame. He brings unstinted joy to the art of batting. To me, he best symbolises the heights an individual can rise to dominate a team sport. Words can never capture the beauty of Sachin’s cricket.” — Kapil Dev

“He exists where we can’t.” — Ajay Jadeja

“There is no better sight on the cricket field than watching Tendulkar bat.” — Harsha Bhogle

“Sachin is the most complete batsman I have ever seen.” — Ricky Ponting

Source – Internet

England-India Test at Nottingham in July 2014 witnessed an unique occasion of both India and England posting a century partnership for the tenth wicket in the first and second innings  of the Test.  India batted first and its batsmen B Kumar and Mohammad Shami added 111 runs for the tenth wicket. This stand provides first occasion of batsmen posting a “Nelson” runs partnership – 111 runs – in  the history of Test cricket and also provides the 25^th occasion of batsmen posting a three figure partnership for the tenth wicket.

Batting second in the Test/England batsmen – JE Root and JM Anderson posted 198 runs for the tenth wicket. This stand provide the 26th occasion of batsmen posting a century partnership for the tenth wicket and also represent the highest partnership for the tenth wicket in the annals of test cricket. All such occasions are furnished below

B Kumar and Mohammad Shami added 111 runs for the tenth wicket in this test to provide the fourth occasion of  Indian batsmen.  All such occasions are furnished below

JE Root  and JM Anderson posted 198 runs for the tenth wicket to provide the fifth occasion of England batsmen posting a century partnership for the tenth wicket.  All such occasions are furnished below

The following are the  four  occasions of batsmen  posting 150 plus  runs  for the tenth wicket  in the annals of test cricket.

JE Root and JM Anderson posted 198 runs for the tenth wicket. This stand represents the highest partnership for the tenth wicket in the annals of test cricket. The previous best was the 163 runs partnership between PJ  Hughes and AC Agar  of Australia against England at Nottingham in.07.2013. Both the occasions are furnished below

It is interesting to note that most tenth wicket century partnerships have been recorded against England – Eight partnerships. All such partnerships are furnished below

Nottingham in England and Sydney in Australia are the two grounds to witness tenth wicket century partnerships on  three occasions. All such occasions are furnished below

“This FTP protects the status of Test cricket, ensures that prestigious historical Test series can continue to be contested over four or five matches and provides certainty of planning for our members.”

Author: Speed

“It’s probably the most nerve-racking end to a test match I’ve played in … (maybe) any game of cricket I’ve ever played – tied World Cup semi-finals included.”

Author: Ponting

“We held separate discussions with Brian and we believe it is in the best interest of West Indies cricket for him to return to the job.”

Author: Gordon

“For 18 months the ICC have been consistently reviewing the role that Twenty20 cricket could play internationally, and this response indicates there is strong interest from many parts of the cricket world in this type of event.”

Author: Speed

“I have been surprised yet again with my estimates. This is magic. It shows what cricket is all about in this country.”

Author: Modi

“We’re certainly under pressure again. England have played consistent cricket for two days in this match and have certainly played more consistent cricket than us in the series. That sees us in another challenging position that we’ll have to sit down and think about it.”

Author: Gilchrist

“The President complimented both the teams for playing excellent cricket. He also appreciated both the teams for playing cricket in its true spirit and displaying themselves as true ambassadors of their respective countries.”

Author: Zaidi

“We need to see whether it can add value to international cricket or take value away from it. We need to be careful to preserve 50-over and, particularly, test cricket.”

Author: Speed

“He has taken 580-odd wickets in Test cricket. So every team will want to have him in the side. His presence here for the Test is of course a big encouragement for us.”

Author: Jayawardene

“To win ? you have to make hundreds in Test cricket, that’s what it’s all about. They’re just not doing that right now. There’s no doubt we’ll sit down and talk about some of the individuals, but I must admit I’d be surprised if any changes would be made.”

Author: Ponting

“I think we played some very good cricket, there’s no doubt about that,”

Author: Ponting

“He got the biggest response I’ve ever heard on a cricket ground.”

Author: Ponting

“He has done well in domestic cricket and has experience as well.”

Author: More

“We want to make sure that Australian cricket fans make up the majority of the crowd.”

Author: Sutherland

“Fox’s comprehensive cricket coverage over the coming summers is a must for all Australian cricket fans.”

Author: Sutherland

“It’s a really, really tough job and I think cricket is a long way behind other sports in terms of its level of support and the way in which it trains and develops its umpires, especially considering how much pressure and scrutiny umpires are under.”

Author: Sutherland

“Personally, I’m very disappointed because I went there to play cricket. I don’t think you can ever say they’re cheapened runs in Test cricket.”

Author: Langer

“How and Fulton have been selected after showing consistent form in domestic cricket and New Zealand A.”

Author: Bracewell

“It was nothing, we were just discussing cricket. Why do you people have to read more into everything?”

Author: Chappell

“We believe that’s the best way that cricket can show it’s remorse, can show the people of the countries that have been affected that we’re thinking of them and we’re concerned to do whatever we can to ease the suffering at this terrible time.”

Author: Speed

“It’s a great sign for him and for Indian cricket. Hopefully, he will go from strength to strength from here.”

Author: Dravid

“We’re pretty confident, we’ve played good cricket in Adelaide in the past and had a good win there this year, I think it suits our style of team.”

Author: Haddin

“It’s a bit of a lottery but we played some good cricket. Today was our day. I don’t think it will have any impact on the five-day matches to come.”

Author: Vaughan

“It’s some of the best one-day cricket played in a long time _ no doubt about that,”

Author: Ponting “Cricket is an international game which is played by a diverse range of cultures and communities. Respect for each other is a key component of the game and racist comments have no place in cricket.”

Author: Speed

“He has done very well in domestic cricket and his experience will be crucial in Pakistan.”

Author: More

“We need to put the system in place that they can play cricket on Saturdays. I think they should be representing clubs and not the schools on the weekend.”

Author: Estwick

“We waited here in the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) premises from morning as per the directives of the court. Then we got verbal intimation that they are not arriving.”

Author: Dalmiya

“We have 14 players in the squad and a couple of those guys haven’t played a lot of cricket, so we’ll look at them in tomorrow’s game against South Africa.”

Author: Ponting

“The sooner we can get back to playing the cricket we’re used to and the cricket we’ll be playing going forward the better. I think an agreement will be struck.”

Author: Ponting “We have played very good cricket in Australia and we know what we are capable of.”

Author: Ponting “Usually derbies are 0-0 or completely crazy. In the end it was a cricket score, … We are back to winning habits in a derby we don’t traditionally win.”

Author: Wenger

“A meeting was held to discuss some Zimbabwe Cricket ideas for making progress on negotiations. But they have dug their heels in and are all adamant there will be no talks until payments have been fully made.”

Author: Field

“It was a bit slippery in the middle around the cricket pitch.”

Author: Toomey

“It does look like a good wicket. I think it’ll be a fairly traditional Sydney cricket wicket. It’ll be unlikely that we’ll make any other changes.”

Author: Ponting

“I’m sure everybody watching had one of the greatest days of their lives. It was a great game of cricket.”

Author: Ponting

“We played bad cricket yesterday and that one hour was really disappointing.”

Author: Jayawardene

“There’s an ebb and flow of cricket populations. When you have harsh, wet springs it can damage the egg sacs and cut down the numbers.”

Author: Lewis

“You can cut the tension with a cricket stump.”

Author: Walker

“Our joint vision is to set new standards for the delivery and presentation of the cricket World Cup.”

Author: Sutherland