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When Sachin Tendulkar became the first Indian to play 500 international matches

Poulomi Chakraborty

Sachin Tendulkar's legacy (Source: @OnlyTendulkar/x.com)Sachin Tendulkar's legacy (Source: @OnlyTendulkar/x.com)

In a country like India, where cricket is worshiped, kids go to bed dreaming of representing India on the global stage. Many chase that dream, but the magic truly happens when years of hard work transform a young dreamer into a living legend.

In cricket, centuries, double centuries, and five-wicket hauls are celebrated feats, but playing 500 international matches is a milestone few can dream of. But for some legend, it is possible as Rohit Sharma is all set to play his 500th international game in the upcoming first ODI against Australia.

The moment may look normal, but the hard work, grit, passion, and limitless hunger can only push to this level. As the Hitman approaches this remarkable milestone, the question arises: Who was the first Indian to reach such glory? Let’s dive into the journey of this cricketing superstar.

First Indian to hit 500 international matches—guess the superstar

If we say India is there in every beat of cricket, that would not be an understatement. Over the years, Indian talents have ruled the cricket world with excellence. Among all-time Indian legends, Sachin Tendulkar leads the list along with some iconic names. From a Mumbai boy to ‘Master Blaster’, Tendulkar walked on his dream path decked with passion, determination, and hard work.

Making his international debut in 1989 against Pakistan in Karachi, a 16-year-old stepped onto the field with dreams in his eyes. As Tendulkar delivered his best, the game returned even more, making him a living legend with countless historic achievements. Yet, amid a career full of wonders, one achievement still stands as the crowning glory.

Carrying the hopes of a cricket-crazy nation, Sachin Tendulkar became the first Indian to play 500 international matches for the nation. As Indian cricket soared to new heights, this landmark achievement added a glittering feather to the nation’s sporting crown.

How does Tendulkar shine in this iconic match?

The celebration of the glorious moment of Sachin Tendulkar’s career became grander as he achieved the feat during the Champions Trophy 2006 against England. While bowling first, Team India dominated the English side into a mere 125 runs, and the target was quite easy to chase down, but Team India stumbled early.

After Harmison removed Virender Sehwag, Tendulkar tightened his grip, stitching a 50-run partnership with Irfan Pathan. After Dravid also walked away just after Pathan’s dismissal, Yuvraj Singh joined the Master Blaster. Pushing India closer to the target, Tendulkar crafted a calm innings of 35 runs in 41 balls with five boundaries. With that, India won the match by 4 wickets.

Even a score of 35 may seem modest, but crafting a composed innings under pressure is the true mark of a great batter, and Sachin Tendulkar has shown this mastery time and again. Even after him, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli crossed the milestone, but the first instance of the iconic milestone remained forever close to fans’ hearts.