Happy Birthday Sachin Tendulkar: 44 reasons to love Master Blaster

New Delhi : Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has turned 44 on Monday, there is barely any record in the game which he has not claimed. On the occasion we bring you 44 facts about the star player that will make you love him more.

1: He is the youngest Indian player to play county cricket in England.

2: Sachin Tendulkar was named after his father's favourite musician SD Burman.

3: Only player with 11000 test runs and 44 wickets.

4: Only cricketer having a wax statue at Madame Tussaud's

5: He is the only player featured in six ODI world cups

6: Born in Nirmal Nursing home in Dadar on April 24, 1973

7: Sachin’s biopic titled as "Sachin – A Billion Dreams" to release worldwide.

8: Sachin released his auto biography in the year 2014.

9: Tendulkar sponsors over 200 NGOs taking care of underprivileged kids.

10: Sachin owns the Kochi franchise in Indian Super league.

11: Sachin was made an honorary group captain of the Indian Air Force in 2010.

12: Post office issued an stamp after he played his 200th Test match.

13: Only player to score 1000 runs in a calendar year for seven times.

14: He has played most number of Test matches (200) and most number of ODIs (463).

15: He holds record of hitting most number of international centuries (100)

16: Sachin is the only player to score over 30000 runs in international cricket.

17: Sachin used to play with the heaviest bat which weighed 3.2 lbs.

18: Only one dark spot on his bright career – one match ban for alleged ball tempering in 2001 against South Africa.

19: His father died in 1999, in the next match he played, Sachin scored 140 runs and dedicated it to his father.

20: He is the first cricketer given runout by a third umpire.

21: Sachin became richest cricketer in 1995 after he signed a massive deal of Rs 31.5 crores with World tel.

22: Sachin opened game for India for the first time in 1994 on the day of Hindu festival Holi.

23: Sachin's first advertisement was about sticking plaster.

24: Till 1996, Sachin had no sponsor for his bat.

25: Sachin Tendulkar's first car was Maruti 800.

26: His maiden Test ton came in 1990 and maiden ODI  ton in 1996.

27: He was once hit on nose by a bouncer by Waqar Younis, he was bleeding but he refused medical assistance and kept playing for his team.

28: Sachin made his Test debut at the age of 16 years against Pakistan.

29: In 1988, Sachin scored a century in every innings he played.

30: Sachin is the only Indian player who has once played for Pakistan.

31: In his early days he used to sleep with his cricket gear.

32: Sachin also have a great interest in tennis.

33: Sachin Tendulkar is the first player to score a double ton in ODI.

34: He has scored most centuries in a calendar year. Total – 9.

35: He is the only active cricketer nominated in Rajya Sabha.

36: Sachin is very possessive about Ferrari, even his wife is not allowed to drive the car.

37: He is also passionate about watches and perfumes.

38: He has earned national awards like Arjuna Award, Padma Shri, Padma Vibhushan, Bharat Ratna

39: Boost was Sachin's first brand endorsement.

40: Sachin has a world record of hitting five Test centuries before the age of 20.

41: He won Man of the match award 6 times even when he was on the losing side.

42: He bats and bowls from right hand but writes from left hand.

43: He was the youngest player to play in a Ranji team.

44: Sachin wanted to be a fast bowler but his coach Dennis Lille advised him to concentrate on batting.

Well, there are many more countless achievement by him. But for his 44th birthday we settle for these.