Today’s date holds a significant spot in the hearts of cricket enthusiasts as the greatest cricketer ever to hold a cricket bat, the ‘God of Cricket’, Sachin Tendulkar celebrates his 51st birthday today.
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is a name that continues to motivate many people throughout the world not just in this sport but in all walks of life. Over the years, whether anyone watches the sport or not, the chant ‘Sachin Sachin..’ is something every follower of the sport connects with.
THE JOURNEY FROM TEENAGER TO LEGEND:
Tendulkar made his debut against Pakistan on November 15, 1989, at the age of 16. He immediately faced pace behemoths Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis and performed admirably. Sachin stood strong and built a blazing reputation for himself in an era where bowlers had fewer restrictions and dominated the game
Sachin made his international debut at the age of 16Having played across generations and in a statistically complex game, the Master Blaster holds nearly every significant batting record, including most international runs of 34,357 across formats, from which 15,921 came in Tests, 18426 in ODIs, and 10 in just one T20I game. The 51-year-old was the first male cricketer to hammer a double century in ODIs. Moreover, he also holds the record of 100 centuries, which seems unbreakable in at least a few upcoming years.
With the inauguration of the Indian Premier League (IPL), a major two-month T20 competition in the country, the Master was picked by the Mumbai franchise as an icon player. He even suggested the unit have the name Mumbai Indians (MI) and not Mumbai Razors. He won the championship in 2013 and retired as he wanted youngsters to take his place. The former Indian opener is still with the team as an “Icon”.
After quitting the IPL, he set another record by staying an active international player while leaving the lucrative cash-rich tournament, possibly the only one to do so and maybe the only one to ever hold such a record. On November 14, 2013, Tendulkar played his last international match in front of his home fans against West Indies.
In his career, SRT played six World Cups between 1992 and 2011, making two appearances in the finals in 2003 and 2011. On that magical night of April 2, 2011, in Mumbai, he ultimately lifted the much-coveted trophy and carried out the epilogue in front of his home crowd.
Sachin with the ICC World Cup 2011 trophy at the Gateway of IndiaDRIVE IN THE COMMERCIAL FIELD:
Tendulkar was one of the primary reasons for cricket’s meteoric rise in popularity in India. Tendulkar transformed cricket from a sport to a religion across the Indian subcontinent, giving the people of a nation already inclined towards cricket a role model.
In 1995, long before sports personalities were ubiquitous on television, Tendulkar, then 22, signed a first-of-its-kind deal that would make him a household name. Mark Mascarenhas, who reinvented celebrity management, became close friends with Tendulkar and was instrumental in arranging the record-breaking INR 31.5 crore agreement with WorldTel for the Mumbaikar. The head of WorldTel credited Tendulkar’s bank account with more zeros than the cricket community could have ever dreamed of. The five-year contract, unprecedented in its scope, provided several opportunities for not just the Master Blaster but also for all subsequent cricket players.
Cheerful Mark Mascarenhas hugging Sachin after his historic Sharjah innings in 1998Mark also brought SRT the renowned MRF agreement. Mark was aware of Sachin’s preferences and never went against his will by bringing him offers of harmful products. Following Mark’s untimely death, sports agents approached Sachin, but the acclaimed batter didn’t leave WorldTel and was later represented by Vinod Naidu.
GOD OF CRICKET:
For almost thirty years, Tendulkar has been an iconic figure for young people. His exceptional batting abilities during his playing career captivated the cricket community and encouraged young people to take up the game. But his achievements in cricket aren’t the only things that have elevated him to international fame. His demeanour off the pitch has also motivated billions of others to aspire to be like him, earning him the rightful title of “God.”
In the modern world, when celebrities who pose as “influencers” promote harmful products, Sachin, in his era, denied a blank cheque offer from tobacco corporations to endorse products as he did not want to be affiliated with items that may endanger people’s health. Tobacco products have been linked to major health concerns and Tendulkar did not want to endorse a product that could harm his fans’ health.
Similarly, in 2010, Sachin was offered INR 20 crore by United Breweries Group to advertise its products, but he declined. Tendulkar also rejected to appear in Kingfisher’s ‘Oo La La La Le O’ ad campaign during the IPL, which featured an array of cricketers from various IPL franchises.
As a matter of fact, the Bharat Ratna is well-known for being committed to advocating healthy living, having been connected with programs encouraging physical exercise, good eating, and other positive behaviours. He has also strongly supported several social concerns, including education and child welfare. Tendulkar exhibited his devotion to these ideals by refusing to promote tobacco products, setting an example for others to follow.
ECONOMIC REFORM COINCIDE WITH SACHIN’S FORM:
The financial and administrative core of the cricket eco-system shifted from England and Australia to India and Sachin had a major role in it.
Sachin’s spectacular rise coincided with a stunning turnaround in the Indian economy. After 1991, the economy soared, and even Sachin’s form reached astounding new heights. In other ways, his World Cup century came only days after the death of his father in 1999, and it was similar to India’s escape from harsh international sanctions following the nuclear testing at Pokhran.
Then came a lull in Sachin’s career, which was also infused with match-fixing scandals in Indian cricket. Notably, at the same time, India also saw slow economic growth, which majorly had to do with the 9/11 slump. However, by 2003, Sachin was back in top form, this time at the World Cup in South Africa. The BRICS report also elevated India to star status.
As Sachin rose to new heights, the nation experienced strong economic expansion until the Lehman-induced financial crash in 2008. During the 2007–08 Australian series, Sachin was back to his brilliant best. Following a decline, India’s economy expanded rapidly between 2009 and 2010.
In addition, the final pearl in Sachin’s cap was his World Cup triumph in 2011, after which his form slowed down. The Indian economy also lost steam after the first half of 2011.
Net Worth:
Presently, Tendulkar is the wealthiest cricket star in the world. With an estimated net worth of more than INR 1300 crore, he has amassed tremendous wealth from endorsement deals, investments, and contracts with the IPL and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Additionally, Tendulkar acquired his present residence in 2007 at Perry Road in Mumbai for INR 39 crore. Sachin also purchased the BMW i8 for INR 2.62 crore. Its current price is INR 4 crore, following several modifications. Tendulkar’s garage also houses the INR 1.50 crore BMW M5 “30 Jahre MS” Limited Edition.
Endorsements:
The God of Cricket has an impressive sponsorship portfolio, which only a few athletes across the globe could emulate. Over the course of his 24-year cricket career, Sachin partnered with several internationally known businesses. The brands include:
DP World, Maharashtra Government, Johnson & Johnson, Boost, PepsiCo, Action Shoes, MRF Tyres, Fiat Palio, Toshiba, Colgate-Palmolive, Philips, Royal Bank of Scotland, Adidas, Britannia, Paytm, TVS, ESPN, Star Sports, National Egg Coordination Committee, Sunfeast, Canon, Airtel, G.M. Pens, VISA, Castrol India, Apollo Tyres, Coca Cola, Jaypee Cement, Musafir, Luminous India, UNICEF, Smartron Audemars Piguet, Reliance Communications, ICC World Cup 2015, Rio Olympic 2016, ICC Women’s World Cup 2017, ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Indian Olympic Association, Sony Pictures Network, Oxigen, G-Hanz, Sanyo BPL, Ujala Techno Bright, Livpure, Power Footwear, Slazenger, Aster Pharmacy, DBS Bank, Aviva Life Insurance, Amit Enterprises, Kaspersky Internet Security, Nazara Technologies, Prime Meridian, IDBI Federal Life Insurance, Spartan Sports International, Bajaj, Gillette, Mastercard, Pleasure Cruise, Idea Cellular, Unacademy, Spinny, Quaker Oats, JioCinema, Savlon, Chalo App, Mutual Funds Sahi Hai, Ageas Federal Life insurance, and Rario.
Investments:
The more than two decades he spent playing the sport provided him exposure to the business side of the sport, which helped him understand his stature as a marketable athlete.
He co-owned the Indian Super League (ISL) unit Kerala Blasters FC and Premier Badminton League team Bengaluru Blasters. In addition, he co-owned the Mumbai franchise in the International Tennis Premier League.
The former batter also owns two restaurants, Sachin’s and Tendulkar’s, located in Mumbai and Bengaluru, respectively.
Among many others, Smartron India, Smaaash Entertainment, S Drive and Sach, Musafir, JetSynthesys, Spinny, True Blue, and SRT Sports Management were also the brands he invested in.