The little big man of Indian Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, became the most-capped Test cricketer in the world after taking the field, in the third and final Test of the ongoing cricket series against Sri Lanka.

Before the third test, the record was held by another legend from Australia, Steve Waugh, its former captain, with whom Tendulkar was tied at 168 Test matches.This was Tendulkar’s 169th test match! Tendulkar has scored 13,742 runs in 168 Tests at an average of 56.08, notching up 48 hundreds and 55 half-centuries in the process.No cricketer has made more runs in Tests, or notched up more Centuries.

The year was was 1989, when a preciously talented 16 year old made his Test debut in Karachi.After a long journey spanning more than two decades, Tendulkar spoke on his exceptional career.

“In 1989, I remember playing the first Test match. I felt completely out of place having played just one first class season, although I had scored runs. But there was a lot of difference between facing first class bowlers and Wasim (Akram), Waqar (Younis), Imran (Khan) and Abdul Qadir.I thought, this is probably my first and last but luckily I got another chance and scored runs in the second match. From there on, I thought I belong here and I can manage,” he said.

Tendulkar,has also played 442 one-day internationals, which is just a couple of matches less than Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya’s record of 444.He has 17,598 runs, including 46 centuries, in his 442 one-dayers. The Mumbaikar also holds the distinction of being the first batsman to score a double hundred in ODIs.