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So, the Master Blaster has broken one more world record! This time around Sachin Tendulkar has smashed Brian Laraâ??s world record of most runs (11, 953) made in Tests. Sachin Tendulkar has also become the first player in the world to cross the 12,000 run mark in the Tests.

Even though Sachin broke Laraâ??s world record in 20 more Tests, his achievement is far more valuable than Laraâ??s considering that Lara did not have to carry the hopes and aspirations of more than one billion souls on his shoulders, like Sachin. Besides, Lara did not represent a country like India where cricket is regarded a religion and cricketers revered like heroes when they perform well and like dirt when they fail to live upto expectations.      

Now Sachin holds the most number of world records in all versions of the game. Besides being the highest run getter in the Tests, Sachin also has the most number of runs in the one day internationals. With 39 centuries in one day internationals and 42 centuries in Tests he also has the most number of centuries made in both the versions of the game

It has been a long, eventful journey for â??Tendlyaâ??, as he is fondly called by some of the former cricketers. Nineteen years is indeed a long period. It was way back in 1989 when Sachin had made his famous international debut at the tender age of 16 against the arch rivals, Pakistan.

Since then, Sachin has made runs against all countries at almost every venue throughout the world, and also clobbered all types of famous bowlers. From Abdul Qadir to Shane Warne, from Imran Khan to Allan Donald, from Waqar Yunus to Brett Leeâ??the Master Blaster has really spared none and demolished the reputations of almost all feared bowlers over the years.

One still fondly remembers how many years back he had had clobbered the legendary Abdul Qadir so badly that it had left the Pakistani spinner  a virtually shaken man. Then all Qadir could do was watch the unfolding mayhem in complete awe like millions of people from all parts of the world. 

The best thing about the Little Master is that he has retained the passion and child-like enthusiasm for the game throughout his long career. He still gives his best shot when he walks out to bat or field. He still is the mainstay of the fragile Indian batting line up even after so many years. There may be the â??Wallâ?? Dravid, the â??Classyâ?? Laxman, the â??Demolisherâ?? Sehwag and the â??Big Hitterâ?? Dhoni in the Indian team, but it still â??Tendlyaâ?? who most often carries the Indian innings on his tried and tested shoulders through tough and rough times.

Even in the recently concluded Mohali Test against Australia it was mainly Tendulkar who kept the Kangaroos guessing and on tenterhooks for long. His solid innings ensured that India got a good score on board. Though he fell 12 runs short of his yet another century, at 88 runs he ensured India had Australia on the mat. Had there been any other batsman in Sachinâ??s shoes he would most probably have taken it easy after crossing the biggest milestone of his career.

But then Sachin has never been like any other quality player. He is an icon, a real superstar, the like of which, as they say, comes only once in a blue moon. The Little Master is unarguably the greatest and the best cricketer of all generations, barring, perhaps, Sir Don Bradman, and, maybe, Gary Sobers.

Even Sir Don Bradman was much impressed by Sachin Tendulkarâ??s batting prowess which reminded him of his own batting and class. No wonder, the best spinner of the world, Shane Warne, has put Sachin Tendulkarâ??s name right on the top in his personal list of the current greats of the international cricket.          

Maybe, Sachin Tendulkarâ??s world record in the Tests would be broken one day by someone, maybe, by Ricky Ponting. But even the highly talented Ricky Ponting may not be able to replicate the feat in the one day internationals where Sachin Tendulkarâ??s achievement is simply phenomenal. Certainly, it would be next to impossible to reach the dizzying heights of cricketing glory that the Master Blaster has managed to reach over the years.