Since I started watching Sachin Tendulkar playing, I have always wondered why people adore him so much. And whenever I heard news channels, cricket fans, and commentators addressing him as “God”, one question would crop up: Why is Sachin called the God of Cricket?
But when I watched Sachin’s cricket matches from the ’80s and ’90s era, all my doubts were cleared. I wasn’t just stunned by his cricket talent but also became a fan of his humble as well as soft-spoken personality.
After making his international cricket debut at the mere age of 16 against Pakistan in 1989, Sachin Tendulkar went on to improve his cricket skills and show his battling class.
Finally, Sachin Tendulkar’s cricket career spanning 24 long years came to an end when he retired from international ODI cricket in 2013, leaving his legacy and also tears in the eyes of every Indian cricket fan.
During his two-decade-long cricket career, he not only became a renowned cricketer globally but also earned immense respect from cricket fans to establish himself as a cultural icon.
If you’re not into cricket deeply, you might wonder:
“Many great cricketers happened to make their names but why is this special status given to Sachin? What is so special about him?”
Good questions! (Even I had these doubts initially)
To start, I would say Sachin is renowned as God in the cricket world not literally but due to his popularity in the Cricket sport. Truth be told, cricket isn’t just a sport in India but also a religion in which the Master Blaster is revered insanely.
Why is Sachin Tendulkar the God of Cricket?
Though many cricketers might enjoy the God status, Sachin Tendulkar is the 1st God of cricket in terms of popularity. And there are plenty of reasons for assigning this sobriquet to him. Here are a few of them:
Jaw-Dropping Records and Stats
Sachin maintained a consistently good record till the time he played cricket in all formats. His cricket records and stats testify it clearly.
Between Sachin’s debut and last played matches, you can spot numerous master knocks from the legend. Have a look at his cricket career stats:
| Sachin Tendulkar’s Cricket Batting Stats | ||||||
| Format | Matches | Innings | Highest Score | Runs | 100s | 50s |
| Test (1989 – 13) |
200 | 329 | 248* | 15921 | 51 | 68 |
| ODI (1989 – 12) |
463 | 452 | 200* | 18426 | 49 | 96 |
| T20I (2006) |
1 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| IPL (2008 – 13) |
78 | 78 | 100* | 2334 | 1 | 13 |
Indeed, the legendary cricketer has left a dent in the world of cricket with his jaw-dropping batting performances. Not just the cricket fans but even opponents would adore him when he came to bat in the stadium.
Several Match-Winning Knocks
Be it any format, Sachin would know how to turn any game in his team’s favor. He did so by showcasing his spectacular batting skills that reflected his prowess in every shot.
In his 24-year cricket career, the legendary batsman had knocked the opponents off the ground by making the Indian team taste victories.
Whether it’s his 143* not out against Australia in the 1992 Sharjhan Coca-Cola Cup or his mind-blasting innings of 200* against South Africa in 2010, the master blaster showed his batting class whenever his team was struggling.
Contribution to the Indian Cricket
If someone prepares a list of Indian cricket players who contributed to Indian cricket, he can’t ignore Sachin’s name. Such is his contribution to his country’s cricket arena.
And he has made every Indian proud by performing extraordinarily well across the world. Cricket fans from the ‘80s and ‘90s would know how passionately people watch Sachin playing on their TV screens and cricket grounds.
When Sachin got out early, there would be pin-drop silence in the stadium. Fans would simply leave the stadium immediately and turn their TVs off if he didn’t score well. Only the No. 1 God of Cricket can enjoy such popularity among cricket lovers.
Inspiration for Youthful Players
Not just for his cricket skills, young players admire Tendulkar for his positive attitude and comforting personality. His commitment to continuous improvement and overcoming injuries to make powerful comebacks in cricket inspired many younger players.
Cricketers like Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, etc, would watch him playing during their learning years. In fact, Virender Sehwag once said he would copy Sachin’s straight drive to improve his opening batting style.
Also, former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni said he tried to copy Sachin to play like him but he couldn’t succeed at it. Clearly, the Master Blaster left a mark on the lives of young talents who later broke new records and contributed to Indian cricket.
Respect from Opponents
Speaking of his popularity, it isn’t just limited to the Indian audiences or crickets. That’s because even opponents respect his batting style, sportsmanship, and humble personality.
Even when bowlers would try to provoke or abuse him on the field, he would keep his calm demeanor. It made even opponent bowlers become his fans.
It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that opponent bowlers would both fear and respect Sachin’s batting. And the God of Cricket would put integrity over everything else.
One instance of it is when Sachin walked out in the match against the West Indies despite the Australian Umpire Steve Davies giving him not out.
Also, he got immense respect from Pakistan players in his debut match. What happened was Sachin’s nose started bleeding when a fast bouncer ball hit his face.
When his colleagues asked him to retire hurt and leave the ground, he refused their offer and insisted on playing the game. It earned him immense respect even from the Pakistan players.
His Comparison with Other Legend Players
Often, comparisons happen in the cricket sport between different players. And Sachin’s case is no exception. Many cricket experts would compare Sachin with other legendary players like Sir Don Bradman, Viv Richards, Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara, Virat Kohli, etc.
It’s quite natural to make such comparisons. But the longevity and diversity in Tendulkar’s batting career set him apart from other players.
Without a doubt, Sachin’s over 2 decades of successful cricket career with memorable records make him a universal icon. Even his peers and juniors would respect him for his batting skills.
On breaking Sachin’s record of ODI centuries, Virat Kohli said he wouldn’t be able to match his idol’s expertise but he felt very special in achieving this ODI cricket record.
Earlier, Sachin shared that only Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli could break his records. And when Virat, the King of Cricket accomplished it in reality, he expressed his happiness that an Indian broke his record of centuries.
His Influence Beyond Cricket
Not just for his cricket career, Sachin has also gained popularity outside the cricket world. His positive, soft-spoken, and humble personality helped him become an idol for many cricketers and fans.
Beyond cricket, he involves himself in many social causes to contribute to others’ lives. Also, he is always ready to offer his valuable guidance to young players whenever they ask for it.
It is Sachin’s cricket finesse and other valuable works that made him awarded with the prestigious Bharat Ratna award by the Indian government.
Conclusion
To sum up, I would say Sachin Tendulkar has earned the title “The God of Cricket” due to his contribution to cricket. He is the reason why millions of Indians started watching the game of Cricket.
Sachin’s hard work and commitment to Cricket helped him set unbreakable records to his name. Also, it helped him take the name of Indian cricket at an international level.
Despite having many records to his name, Sachin’s humble personality makes him everyone’s favorite.
