It has been a marathon journey for the Master Blaster.

Sachin Tendulkar has decided to call it quits from one-day internationals (ODIs) after a mind-boggling 23 years of playing the game.

He entered the arena when he was just 16 years old and has finally decided to give his tired body a break four months short of his 40th birthday.

And what can one say about his ODI record except perhaps salivate at these numbers which are unlikely to be broken for sometime to come. Sachin has knocked up 49 tons in 463 ODIs with a tally of 18,426 runs to his credit.

There are no two ways about the fact that the runs became harder to get over the last few years but that is only natural for someone whose body has braved the rigours of the game for over two decades.

It calls for enormous levels of fitness and a remarkably strong mind which refuses to get carried away by the accolades and, equally, be affected by criticism.

Lately, the only obsession for his millions of fans across the country was to see the little master get his 100th international ton which he finally did against Bangladesh.

Even for someone like Sachin, who is cool and unflappable, the pressure of getting this elusive ton was clearly playing on his mind. And when he did, the nation heaved a sigh of relief even though India lost the game.

In such a long career spanning over 450 ODIs, how does one pick some of his more memorable knocks?

My personal favourites are the back-to-back hundreds against Australia at Sharjah in 1998 as well as the astonishing 98 against Pakistan in the 2003 semis of the World Cup in South Africa.

Each of these innings saw a Sachin who was on top of the bowling with a clear intent to see India triumph. Even his critics cannot deny the enormous charisma the man has on and off the field. I was witness to it during the 2002 Auto Expo in New Delhi where he was the brand ambassador for Italian carmaker Fiat.

The crowds went wild seeing him and thousands of eyes hungrily followed him on the dais and devoured every word he uttered.

As far as they were concerned, here was God himself addressing the multitude.

I cannot think of many sportsmen with this kind of magnetic appeal.

Little wonder, therefore, that Sachin cannot step out of his Bandra bungalow in Mumbai without adequate security.

To his credit, the Master Blaster has handled this overwhelming devotion remarkably well.

He is known to be passionate about cars and different cuisines.

Perhaps, he will have a little more time to pursue these passions but cricket will still remain top priority.

>murali.gopalan@thehindu.co.in

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