Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar (born April 24, 1973) is widely considered to be one of the greatest batsmen of all time. He currently holds the records for the most cumulative runs, and the most number of centuries scored in One Day Internationals, and Test cricket. He made his international debut against Pakistan in 1989 at the age of sixteen, becoming India's youngest Test player. Although primarily a top-order batsman, Tendulkar has often proved to be a useful and effective slow bowler. He received India's highest sporting honor, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in the year 1997-1998 and the civilian award Padma Shri in 1999. He has been conferred the Padma Vibhushan for the year 2007-2008.

The early days of Sachin Tendulkar are interesting. Born in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) into a middle class family, Tendulkar was named after his family's favorite music director Sachin Dev Burman. He went to Sharadashram Vidyamandir School where he started his cricketing career. When in school he was involved in a mammoth 664 run partnership in a Harris Shield game with friend and International team mate Vinod Kambli, and in 1988/89 scored 100 not out in his first first-class match, for Bombay against Gujarat. Aged 15 years 232 days, he was by some distance the youngest player to score a century on debut. He is the only player in India to score a century on debut in all 3 first class tournaments in India.

He was named by Wisden as one of the Cricketers of the Year 1997 which was the first calendar year in which he scored a 1000 Test runs. He repeated the feat in 1999, 2001 and 2002.

In 2010 Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar has two more accolades to be proud of. He has been named the ICC Cricketer of the year 2010 and has also won the People Choice Award for 2010. He has also been conferred upon the title of Group Captain of the Indian Airforce.