Sachin Tendulkar

 The Saddest Retirements in Cricket: When Legends Walked Away

Cricket is a game that gives us joy, excitement, and countless memories — but it also breaks our hearts when our heroes say goodbye. Every fan knows that moment: the lump in the throat, the standing ovation, the final wave of the bat. The end of an era.

Here’s a look back at some of the saddest and most emotional retirements that left the cricketing world in tears. 

🏏 1. Sachin Tendulkar – The End of a Golden Era

When Sachin Tendulkar played his final Test match in Mumbai in 2013, time stood still. The “Little Master,” who carried the hopes of a billion people for over two decades, walked off the field one last time — and millions cried with him.
His farewell speech was heartfelt and humble, filled with gratitude. It wasn’t just the end of a career; it was the end of childhoods, dreams, and an era of Indian cricket.

Sachin’s farewell at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in 2013 was the end of an era. He was carried by his teammates and moments of deep emotion marked his final day of international cricket.

Key Test Records

• Most Test runs by any batsman: 15,921 runs.

• Most Test matches played by any player: 200 Tests. 

• Most Test centuries by any batsman: 51 centuries. 

• Highest individual Test score by him: *248 ** (not out) 

• Most Test fifties (50+ scores) for him: 68 fifties. 

• Test batting average: ~53.78.

• Fastest (in terms of innings) to 10,000 Test runs: He reached the mark in 195 innings (tied with others) according to some records. 

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    Here are some of the major One Day International (ODI) records held

•      by Sachin Tendulkar, along with highlights and context:
  

  Key ODI Records

  • He scored 18,426 runs in ODIs (in 463 matches) at an average of ~44.83.

  • He played the most ODIs ever: 463 matches. 

  • He holds the record for most ODI centuries: 49 hundreds. 

  • He recorded 96 half-centuries (50+ scores) in ODIs.

  • Longest ODI career span: 22 years and 91 days.

  • He is the first male cricketer to score a double century in ODIs (200*). 

  • Most “Man of the Match” awards in ODIs: 62.

  • Most “Man of the Series” awards in ODIs: 15. 

  • Most ODI hundreds against a single opponent: 9 centuries vs Australia. 

  • Most runs in a calendar year in ODIs: 1,894 runs in 1998.

  Why these matter & context

  • The volume of matches (463) shows exceptional longevity at the highest level.

  • Accumulating 18,426 runs means maintaining performance through changes in formats, opposition, conditions.

  • 49 centuries is remarkable given the “one-day” format's pressures and variation.

  • Scoring a double hundred in an ODI (200*) set a new landmark for what was possible in the format.

  • “Man of the Match” & “Man of the Series” counts reflect not only accumulation but impact in games/series.

  • Doing so many runs against strong opponents (Australia, Sri Lanka) shows consistent performance in tough conditions.

    
    
    

  Here are some of the major national and international awards and honours received by Sachin Tendulkar:

  🇮🇳 National Awards

  • Arjuna Award: 1994 — India’s sporting honour for outstanding achievement in sports.

  • Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (now called Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna): 1997–98 — India’s highest sporting honour.

  • Padma Shri: 1999 — India’s fourth-highest civilian award

  • Padma Vibhushan: 2008 — India’s second-highest civilian award. 

  • Bharat Ratna: 2014 — India’s highest civilian award

  • Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award (by Board of Control for Cricket in India): 2025 — honours his contribution to Indian cricket. 

  🌍 International Awards

  • ICC Cricketer of the Year: 2010 — Highest individual award from International Cricket Council.

  • Induction into ICC Cricket Hall of Fame: 2019. 

  • Laureus World Sports Awards – Sporting Moment of the Year: 2020 (for his 2011 World Cup-winning moment).