Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin with coach Ramakant Achrekar

Sachin with mates Sanjay Manjrekar and Vinod Kambli

1989: A 16-year-old Tendulkar makes his Test debut against Pakistan under Kris Srikkanth and scores two half-centuries in six innings. Picture: GETTY IMAGES

Sachin Tendulkar in action during his debut Test match against Pakistan at Karachi in November 1989.

1990: a year later and the little Indian notches up his maiden Test century (119 not out) against England at Old TraffordPicture: ALAMY

Sachin with his first captain Mohd Azharudheen

Admiring England players including Allan Lamb and Eddie Hemmings (left) applaud Sachin Tendulkar after his Test-saving ton at Old Trafford in 1990.

16-year-old Sachin is carried off the field by Vivek Razdan after tearing his calf muscle against NZ.

2004: Sachin equals Sunil Gavaskar's world record of 34 Test centuries. He also becomes only the third player in history, after Gary Kirsten and Steve Waugh, to score centuries against all Test playing nations. Also becomes the first player in ODI history to win 50 Man of the Match awards.

Sachin share a light moment with Sir Richard Hadlee.

Racking 'em up: In 2001, he becomes the first batsman in the history of ODI cricket to score 10,000 runs

This photo from 2002 shows Tendulkar giving German F1 Ferrari Driver Michael Schumacher a cricket lesson in the pits at the British Grand Prix at the Silverstone track in England.

2007: another year, another milestone as Tendulkar plays his 400th one-day international

2008: A record chase of 387 runs looms as Tendulkar's unbeaten and flawless 103 delivers the blow to England. It is Tendulkar's 41st Test ton

2010: Tendulkar becomes the first batsman to score an ODI double-century, before becoming the most capped player in Test cricket, surpassing Steve Waugh's tally of 168 Tests

Happy days: Tendulkar and team-mates celebrate World Cup success in 2011

Tendulkar has been revered all his career and a wanted man at most events, not least the 2011 Indian GP

Tendulkar, though, is stuck on 99 international centuries throughout the tour to England in 2011. Picture: GETTY IMAGES

Breaking pressure in 2012: Tendulkar scores his 100th international century in the Asia Cup match against Bangladesh

Consistency breaks- Sachin bowled in his ODI career 68 times.

December 2012: after a poor Test series with the bat against England, Sachin announces his decision to retire from ODI cricket

Indian fans are able to celebrate with their hero once more

Game of cricket will be poorer without Sachin Tendulkar: Pak media