45 reasons why we love Sachin: part three

HIS STRAIGHT DRIVE

Sachin Tendulkar epitomised the straight drive for many of his fans. There weren't many sights in cricket as beautiful as the Little Master driving the ball straight back past the bowler and holding his pose for a second or two, just to make it picture perfect.

HIS EMOTIONAL WORLD CUP CENTURY

Tendulkar had to leave the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup midway because of his his father's demise. There were doubts if he would return, but his mother convinced him to play. Three days after the funeral, he scored a masterful, unbeaten 140 against Kenya. An emotional Tendulkar dedicated the knock to his father.

HIS DUEL WITH McGRATH

In the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy (or the ICC KnockOut Trophy, as it was known then), Tendulkar took on Glenn McGrath for another memorable chapter in their rivalry. He hit the Aussie paceman for a four and a six in consecutive balls in the fifth over and then hooked him for another six in the seventh. Words were exchanged between the two, as Tendulkar successfully threw the bowler off his game.

THE FIRST TO SUMMIT MOUNT 200

In 2010, at the twilight of his career, his fans wondered what else there was for their hero to achieve. An ODI double hundred was the answer. Aged 37, Tendulkar became the first batsman to reach the landmark. He did so against South Africa in Gwalior and remained unbeaten on 200.

HIS CENTURY IN 2001 AGAINST AUSTRALIA

India's come-from-behind victory against Australia in the 2001 Kolkata Test is well-chronicled. Equally significant for the 2-1 series win was Tendulkar's hundred in the third and deciding Test in Chennai. Chasing Australia's first-innings 391, 126 runs from the Indian run-machine helped India put on 501. The contest turned out to be a nail-biter and India got home by two wickets.

A SURPRISE GAME OF STREET CRICKET

Nearly five years after retirement, he seemed as enthusiastic about a game of street cricket as he would have been before he played for India. He joined some locals on the streets of Mumbai late at night, much to their shock. The video was posted on social media and was a treat for all fans.

THE 'SACHIN! SACHIN!' CHANT

Years after his retirement, whenever Tendulkar makes an appearance at any ground in India – or anywhere, really – the distinct chant of "Sa-chin! Sa-chin!" still reverberates. Even after hanging up his boots, he popularity knows no bounds.

HE ADOPTED TWO VILLAGES

The cricket icon has done his bit for the country as a Member of Parliament as well. A member of the upper house of the Indian Parliament, he adopted two villages in the states of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh and directed funds available to him for infrastructure development in the villages.

HE WAS YORKSHIRE'S FIRST

Tendulkar was the first overseas player to turn out for Yorkshire, when the English county signed him up in 1992. The iconic unveiling photo had him in a typical flat cap holding up a pint of Tetley’s bitter. A decade later, he scored a masterful 192 at Headingley and helped India beat England by an innings and 46 runs. It remains one of the better Indian Test victories in England.

HE WAS THE YOUNGEST TO 1,000 TEST RUNS

He became the youngest to 1,000 Test runs when he breached the barrier at just 19 in 1992. He achieved this milestone during his knock of 111 in the second Test against South Africa in Johannesburg.

HE WAS BRADMAN'S FAVOURITE

While Tendulkar drew comparisons with Sir Donald Bradman early in his career, the Australian legend's astronomical Test average was cited to set them apart. However, Bradman himself was a big fan of Sachin, having first noticed him during the 1996 World Cup. Bradman reportedly didn't miss a single Tendulkar innings from then on.