OTD: Sachin Tendulkar became Test Cricket’s highest run-scorer in 2008

Sachin Tendulkar still is the greatest batter cricket has ever seen despite being retired for a decade. On this day in 2008, Sachin Tendulkar climbed the peak of cricketing annals in the Mohali Test. With a single taken of Peter Siddle, Sachin Tendulkar went past Brian Lara’s 11,953 runs in Test cricket.

Making his debut at just age 16 as a child prodigy, the curly-haired youngster from Mumbai was earmarked for greatness. Playing against some of the most fearsome fast bowlers on that tour of Pakistan the youngster played with no fear and a huge poise. 

In his 24-year-long career, Sachin Tendulkar went to achieve many batting feats. The right-handed batting sensation from Mumbai also won many laurels for his nation. His finest moment came at home on 2nd April 2011 when he won the ODI World Cup in Mumbai. 

Sachin Tendulkar becomes Test cricket’s greatest run scorer

India was playing against Australia in the second Test of the four-match series in Mohali. Sachin Tendulkar came into the game just a few runs short of Brian Lara’s record of 11.953 Test runs.

Peter Siddle’s ball was played to the third man and the great man set of in search of runs. Cricket saw a new record holder and it was 35-year-old Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. The master blaster looked up at the sky and saluted and took blessings of his late father.

Sachin Tendulkar surpassed Brian Lara's tally to become the leading run scorer in Test cricket on this day 15 years ago.

- The whole crowd celebrated this monumental milestone and the match was paused for a bit. pic.twitter.com/AZSIocHW2A

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 17, 2023

The Australian players ran up to the Indian great and congratulated him on this feat. The play was stopped for a good ten minutes as there were fireworks going around the stadium. Sachin Tendulkar had brought the entire nation to a halt as he became Test Cricket’s highest run scorer. 

Sachin Tendulkar ended his career with 15.921 Test runs with 51 centuries and 68 half-centuries. The right-handed batter finished with an average of 53.79 with over 2000 boundaries and 69 sixes. In his last game in Mumbai, Tendulkar scored 74 runs against West Indies in a game filled with emotions which was also his 200th Test.

The former India skipper also played 463 ODI games scoring 18426 runs with 49 centuries and 96 half-centuries. Tendulkar became the first batter to score 200 in ODI cricket against South Africa in early 2010. Despite so many cricketers being called the best in today’s times, none has come close to matching the levels and feats of the great man.