Much was expected of 16-year-old debutant Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar ahead of India's 1989 series with Pakistan. He had a huge reputation after reducing one bowling attack to tears on his way to 326 not out while still a schoolboy
Tendulkar is a big fan of tennis and motorsport. He regularly attends Wimbledon and lists John McEnroe as one of his sporting heroes, and more recently he was a VIP guest at the inaugural Indian Grand Prix in 2011
Tendulkar scored his maiden Test century at the age of 17 against England at Old Trafford in 1990, and three years later he smashed 165 against them - his first ton on home soil - to set up an innings victory
Tendulkar had developed into one of the best batsmen in the world by 1998, when he scored two centuries against Australia, and soon earned the "Little Master" nickname previously bestowed on Sunil Gavaskar
Equally prolific in one-day cricket, Tendulkar hits an unbeaten 140 against Kenya in Bristol during the 1999 World Cup in England and is introduced to the Queen, but India fail to make the semi-finals
For all his run-making abilities, captaincy was a struggle for Tendulkar as he lost Test series against Australia and South Africa during two spells in charge of the national team
The crowds have always flocked to watch their hero Tendulkar, affording him god-like status - although he struggles to go out in India without being mobbed, and enjoys the peace and quiet when he stays in London
Tendulkar has enjoyed great success against all countries, particularly enjoying his duels with Australia, and earned their congratulations after becoming the leading run-scorer in Test history in 2008
India rejoiced when, just weeks after the country was shaken by the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the city's favourite son scored a match-winning century in a Test match against England at Chennai
Tendulkar is congratulated by captain Mahendra Dhoni after scoring 200 not out in a one-day international against South Africa in 2010. It was the first double hundred in one-day international cricket and remained a world record until surpassed by compatriot Virender Sehwag in December 2011
Tendulkar won the World Cup in his home country in 2011, scoring almost 500 runs (including his 99th international century against South Africa) on his way to winning the competition at the sixth attempt - but there was a long wait for his century of centuries
Tendulkar celebrates becoming the first player to score 100 international centuries by compiling a ton in a one-day game against Bangladesh in Dhaka on 16 March 2012. The 38-year-old completed his 49th century in one-day cricket, with a single clipped to square leg
However, he only plays one more ODI after reaching that landmark, scoring 52 against Pakistan, and after struggling with the bat in successive home Test series against New Zealand and England, he retires from the 50-over format on 23 December 2012
Tendulkar is immortalised in wax early in 2013, and his last Twenty20 match is the Champions League final on 6 October; four days later, he announces he will retire from all cricket after the second Test against West Indies on 14-18 November - which will be his 200th
