Sachin Tendulkar 's career - in pictures

A 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar in Lahore, Pakistan during his first senior tour. Tendulkar battled on in a blood-stained shirt to make a half century in Sialkot after being hit under the grille by Waqar Younis Photograph: Ben Radford/Getty Images

Walking off the field at Old Trafford after scoring his maiden Test century (the first of 97 international hundreds) in August 1990. Tendulkar scored a match-saving 119 not out in India's second innings having walked out at 127-5 Photograph: Ben Radford/Getty Images

Unveiled as Yorkshire's first ever overseas signing in April 1992 (and also their first non-Yorkshire-born player) a slightly awkward - and chilly - looking 19-year-old Tendulkar poses in traditional Yorkshire dress at the Oval at the behest of an imaginative photographer. He averaged just over 40 in his single season in England Photograph: Tony Harris/PA Archive/Press Association Ima

Becomes the youngest player to reach 1000 Test runs during the second Test against South Africa in Johannesburg in November 1992 Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Getting married in January 1995 to Anjali, daughter of the industrialist Anand Mehta Photograph: Robert Nickelsberg/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image

India Vs Australia 09/03/1998 Ist test Madras On his way to 155 Photograph: Ben Radford/Getty

MADRAS, INDIA: (FILES) In this picture taken 31 January 1999, Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar waves to the crowd as he completes his century during the first Test match between Pakistan and India on Indian soil in twelve years in Madras. Tendulkar who will travel to Pakistan for the forthcoming tour of One Day Internationals and Test matches next month for India's first Test series there since 1989, commented 27 February, to an Indian newspaper that keeping his weight in check will overshadow any fears about personal safety. AFP PHOTO/ John MACDOUGALL (Photo credit should read JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images) CRICKET INDIAN MDR99 Photograph: John Macdougall/AFP/Getty Images

Bowling in the nets at the Gabba in 1999. Tendulkar, originally a fast bowler, was turned away from the MRF pace foundation academy by Dennis Lillee and advised to concentrate on his batting. Besides the runs, he has 199 international wickets with his mix of off-breaks, leg-breaks and loopy golden arm pies Photograph: Darren England/Getty Images

Batting during the first Test at Goodyear Park, Bloemfontein of the March 2001 series against South Africa. Tendulkar scored a brilliant 155 on the first day, one of his finest Test innings, although India still went on to lose the match Photograph: Yoav Lemmer/AFP/Getty Images

Taking a breather during the 2003 World Cup match against Pakistan. Tendulkar scored an exhilarating 98 as India won by six wickets. He was also player of the tournament Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

MULTAN, PAKISTAN: Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar raises his bat and helmet after scoring a century during the second day of the first Test match between Pakistan and Indian in Multan, 29 March 2004. Following their previous day's 228 runs, India made 467. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) JS560 Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images

Tendulkar meets Ferrari technical manager Ross Brawn during qualifying for the Grand Prix of Europe in May 2004. A year earlier he had been criticised for accepting a duty waiver on a Ferrari given to him him by the Fiat group on passing Bradman's mark of 29 Test centuries. He did offer to pay the $245,000 tax. Ferarri picked up the tab Photograph: Jean-loup Gautreau/AFP/Getty Images

Three Indian galacticos: Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly pose in their one-day shirts in February 2007 ahead of the cricket World Cup Photograph: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images

Tendulkar does some yoga stretching on the outfield while team physio John Gloster throws a dampened towel in his face during practice in Kolkata in May 2007. Tennis elbow bouts aside, his fitness has been remarkably consistent Photograph: Deshakalyan Chowdhury/AFP/Getty Images

Relaxing with Harbhajan Singh in the nets in New Delhi in October 2008. Days later Tendulkar passed Brian Lara's all-time Test runs record during his innings of 88 in Mohali Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images

Tendulkar celebrates breaking the Test runs record. He currently has 12,773 with only Ricky Ponting looking likely to mount a challenge any time soon. Photograph: Manan Vatsyayana/AFP/Getty Images

Another landmark in December 2008. Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh celebrate their successful final day run chase against England during the Chennai Test of December 2008. Tendulkar dedicated his 103 not out to the victims of the recent Mumbai bombings Photograph: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images

Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar throws his arms up into the air as he celebrates scoring a world record breaking double century (200 runs) during the second One Day International (ODI) cricket match at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium in Gwalior on February 24, 2010. India played South Africa and finished with 401 runs for the loss of three wickets. AFP PHOTO/ MANAN VATSYAYANA (Photo credit should read MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/Getty Images) VERTICAL CRICKET MATCH PORTRAIT FULL-LENGTH JOY YEUX AU CIEL Photograph: Manan Vatsyayana/AFP/Getty Images

Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar plays a shot to score the runs making him the first batsman ever to reach the milestone of 14000 runs in Test cricket during the second day of the second Test between India and Australia at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on October 10, 2010. In reply to Australia's first innings scored of 478 runs Indian are 110 runs for the loss of two wickets in 27 overs. AFP PHOTO/Dibyangshu SARKAR (Photo credit should read DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images) VERTICAL Photograph: Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP/Getty Images

His 50th Test century came on day 4 of the 1st Test match between during the Indian tour of South Africa in December 2010 Photograph: Gallo Images/Getty Images

Number 51 came up in the third Test of the same tour. Judging by the look of that bat it seems like it has been instrumental in a number of those centuries Photograph: Alexander Joe/AFP/Getty Images

During the ICC World Cup in March 2011 Tendulkar notches his 48th ODI century when India take on South Africa Photograph: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images

Fans cheer as the little master takes to the field on the third day of the third test against West Indies in Mumbai, India, He finishes the day on 67 not out, just 33 runs of that magic figure. Will 25th November finally be the day he makes history? Photograph: Rajanish Kakade/AP

Tendulkar looks to the heavens afterfinally scoring his 100th century during the one-day international between India and Bangladesh. He made his historic ton in 138 balls and was later out for 114 Photograph: MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/Getty Images

The Little Master, or simply "the God of cricket" in his native land, announced on Thursday that he would retire from Test cricket after playing in his 200th Test against West Indies in India next month. Photograph: Noah Seelam/AFP/Getty Images