1. Tendulkar aspired to be a fast bowler as a child, but his application to the MRF Pace Foundation, founded by famous Dennis Lillee, was turned down in 1987.

2. Sachin was a ball boy for the match between India and Zimbabwe at the Wankhede Stadium during the 1987 World Cup.

3. In 1988, he played as a replacement for Pakistan in a one-day practice match against India at the Brabourne Stadium.

4. Tendulkar used to win a coin from his guru Ramakant Achrekar if he could go a full net session without being dismissed. Tendulkar owns a total of 13 such coins.

5. In October 1995, Sachin signed a five-year contract with World Tel worth Rs 31.5 crore, making him the richest cricketer in the world.

6. He owns an impressive assortment of perfumes and timepieces.

7. In 1992, on the second day of the Durban Test, Tendulkar was the first international batter to be given out by a third-umpire after Jonty Rhodes’ throw caught him short of the crease.

8. Sachin Tendulkar was the youngest Indian to play county cricket at the age of 19.