Regarded as the ‘God of Cricket’, Sachin Tendulkar, is and always will be one of the greatest batsmen the world has ever seen.
In an international career that spanned nearly 24 years, Tendulkar has won several accolades. What drove the Master Blaster was his hunger to perform and penchant for breaking records.
Tendulkar made his debut in November 1989 against arch-rivals Pakistan in Karachi. His induction could not be any tougher as he had to face the likes of Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. India had already been reduced to a score of 41-4 in reply to Pakistan’s total of 409 when the diminutive teenager came into bat.
Also read: SK flashback: Sachin Tendulkar's unique first
The scoreboard will always show how he had scored only 15 runs before being bowled by Waqar. Yet, he braced the magnanimous occasion with a subtle arrogance and a youthful naivety. The partnership of 32 runs with Mohammad Azharuddin steadied the Indian ship and proved to be significant as India scrambled out a draw.
Not many fathomed that he would be where he is right now. The only person to notch up 100 International centuries, the person with the most number of runs in ODIs and Test matches - the list is endless. Sachin retired in 2013 and has since then contributed to the welfare of different sports in India.
On that note, we take a look at where each of Tendulkar's teammates from his debut Test match is at present:
#1 Krishnamachari Srikkanth
The captain under whom Tendulkar made his first steps in International cricket was Krish Srikkanth. The aggressive right-handed batsman opened the innings after Pakistan were dismissed in the first innings and managed to score only four runs in his 30-minute stay at the crease. In the 2nd innings, he scored a valuable 31 runs that ensured India drew the match.
Srikkanth retired from international cricket in 1993 after he was dropped from the team owing to a dismal run of performances. The highlight of his playing career was the World Cup victory in 1983 in which he was an integral member of the squad.
Post retirement, Srikkanth tried his hands at coaching when he was made the coach of the India ‘A’ team. But the stint was short-lived and he has moved on to broadcasting and commentating for numerous sports and news channels.
In 2008, Srikkanth was appointed as the chief selector of the Indian cricket team and held this position until 2012. He also acted as the brand ambassador of two Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises, viz., the Chennai Super Kings and the Sunrisers Hyderabad. He also made an appearance in the sixth season of a dance reality show on national television in 2013.
Currently, he is employed by a leading news channel as a cricket analyst.
#2 Navjot Singh Sidhu
This soft-spoken attacking batsman walked alongside Srikkanth to the crease, as the duo opened for India. After his forgettable duck in the first innings, Sidhu played an important knock in the 2nd. His innings of 85 runs off 230 deliveries helped India save the Test match.
In 1999 just before the start of the millennium, he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket after amassing over 7000 International runs. Afterward, in 2001 he took to cricket commentary and soon became popular for his clever one-liners, which are called “Sidhuisms.”
However, his career in the commentary box has been laced with controversies – once Sidhu was fired for swearing on air. Sidhu is also banned by the ICC from commentating in Bangladesh’s matches owing to racial comments indirectly thrown to the Bangladeshi team.
In 2004, Sidhu was elected to the Lok Sabha but resigned two years later, after being convicted of homicide in a 1988 road rage incident. Following his conviction, Sidhu, who is also the president of World Jat Aryan Foundation, reappeared in the Lok Sabha and held office until 2014.
Nowadays, he regularly makes appearances on the silver screen as a cricket analyst for various channels. Sidhu is also seen commentating in Hindi in the IPL and international matches.
He has also acted as a judge on reality shows and featured in TV soaps. Sidhu, who now appears in a comedy show, has also participated in reality shows.
#3 Sanjay Manjrekar
Sanjay Manjrekar, who was in his early days as an international player at that time, came into bat at number three for India. In the first innings, he failed to perform as the top-order tumbled. He made amends in the 2nd innings when he spent 350 minutes at the crease scoring a match-saving century. He scored 113 runs to deter Pakistan from a victory.
Sanjay, the son of former Indian cricketer Vijay Manjrekar had a decent international career spanning almost a decade. He played his last international match in 1996 but went on to play domestic cricket until the end of the 1997–98 season.
Post-retirement, the former right-handed batsman, found his calling in the commentary box. Currently, he works as a cricket commentator for various channels. The former cricketer is successful in his post-retirement venture with impeccable oratory skills. His Twitter account is also very popular with Manjrekar well known for making witty comments.
Manjrekar’s singing skills have been lauded since his playing days. However, after retiring he found enough time to harbor the hobby and released an Indi-Pop album called ‘Rest Day.’ Later on, he was a playback singer in a Bengali movie and recently, just before the Pujas, he released a Rabindrasangeet album in Bengali.
#4 Mohammad Azharuddin
Mohammad Azharuddin repaired some of the damage done by the Pakistani fast bowlers in the first innings and was Tendulkar's first batting partner at the International level. He stitched a gritty partnership with Tendulkar and scored 35 runs for his side. In the 2nd innings, he played another handy knock.
Later on, Azharuddin became one of the most successful Indian captains and also had good numbers in the batting statistics. However, his controversial career was cut short after accusations of match-fixing.
In 2000, he was found guilty in the match-fixing scandal with the then South African captain, Hansie Cronje, indicating that the Indian was responsible for introducing him to the bookies. Following this incident, Azharuddin was banned by the ICC and the BCCI from all cricket related activities for life.
In 2012, a Divisional Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court consisting of Justice Ashutosh Mohunta and Krishna Mohan Reddy acquitted him of the match-fixing charges following which the bans were revoked.
In 2009, he won the general elections from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh and served office until 2014 on an Indian National Congress ticket. Most recently, a film based on the cricketer’s life bearing the title ‘Azhar’ was released with Emraan Hashmi playing the title role.
#5 Manoj Prabhakar
Indian medium fast bowler Manoj Prabhakar came in at number 5 ahead of Tendulkar in the first innings. He had been the chief wrecker in Pakistan’s first innings claiming a 5-wicket haul but could not replicate his success with the bat. In the 2nd innings, he dismissed Rameez Raja to make the first breakthrough.
In the 1996 World Cup, Prabhakar, aged 32 by then, struggled to bowl in the match against Sri Lanka. He had to bowl off-spin in the last two overs amidst boos and jeers from the crowd. He announced his retirement soon after the incident.
Prabhakar played his part in Tehelka’s exposure of match-fixing in 1999 when he agreed to record conversations between the Indian cricket board officials (BCCI) and players. However, he was himself implicated of involvement and was subsequently banned from playing cricket by the BCCI.
After retirement, Prabhakar coached the Rajasthan cricket team and was the bowling coach of the Delhi team. However, after publicly criticizing the players, he was sacked as the Delhi coach in 2011. In 2015 he was named as the bowling coach of Afghanistan ahead of the World T20 2016.
Most recently, he is serving as the head coach of the Uttar Pradesh Ranji Trophy team.
#6 Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri came into bat after the dismissal of Tendulkar and scored a gritty 45 as he helped India to a respectable total in the first innings. Known for his defensive style of batting, Shastri played out the last session of the fifth day of the Test match as India managed to draw what seemed to be a lost cause.
Shastri’s international career, however, was cut short by a recurring knee injury. He adorned the national colors for the last time in 1992 and was forced to retire aged just 31. He went on to play first-class cricket until 1994 after winning the Ranji Trophy with Bombay.
In 1995, the middle-order batsman who could also bowl left-arm orthodox made his debut as a TV commentator, a role he still enjoys fulfilling. Since 2003, Shastri has served the BCCI and the ICC in temporary official capacities. The UNICEF goodwill ambassador is seen commentating in India’s matches and in the IPL as well.
Shastri also acted as a temporary coach for the Indian team in 2007. Later on, in 2014 he was given the responsibility of the director of the Indian team, a job he successfully held till the 2016 T20 World Cup. Most recently he had applied for the job of the Indian national team coach, but Anil Kumble was preferred over him for the role.
#7 Kapil Dev
Kapil Dev, who successfully led the Indian team to a World Cup victory in 1983, was awarded the Man of the Match in Tendulkar's debut match for his all-round performances. While in India’s first innings he scored 55 valuable runs, he also picked up seven wickets in the match.
Definitely, the finest all-rounder that India has ever produced, Kapil retired in 1994 after breaking Richard Hadlee’s record of most number of wickets in Test matches. Soon afterward, he was appointed as the coach of the national side in 1999. However, he resigned following the match-fixing scandal.
Kapil maintained a private life after the incident only to make the headlines once again when Wisden nominated him for the Wisden Indian Cricketer of the Century award in July 2002.
Also read: India's ODI XI in MS Dhoni's debut match: Where are they now?
He then reappeared in the cricketing fold gradually and acted as a bowling consultant. He was named as the bowling coach in the preparatory camp prior to India's tour of Pakistan in March 2004.
In 2006, Kapil took over the role of chairman of National Cricket Academy for two years. Previously, he acted in a brief role in Iqbal, a 2005 Bollywood movie and also did cameos for films like Dillagi... Yeh Dillagi, Chain Khuli ki Main Khuli and Mujhse Shaadi Karogi.
He joined the controversial Indian Cricket League (ICL) in 2007 before cutting all ties in 2012. Currently, he is enjoying life after retirement playing golf and watching cricket occasionally.
#8 Kiran More
India’s wicketkeeper in Tendulkar's debut Test match, Kiran More, made one of his most significant contributions with the bat in the first innings. He came on to bat when India was struggling at 163 for 7 and remained unbeaten on 58 to help India reach 262.
After 1993, he failed to find his place in the Indian team but continued playing domestic cricket for Baroda till 1998. Since his retirement, More has been involved with the sport and has helped budding youngsters climb up the ranks.
He started the More-Alembic cricket academy in 1997 to nurture fresh talent. More was elected as the Chairman of Selectors for the Indian team in 2002 and held the position till 2006. During his tenure, he put emphasis on promoting young players to the Indian team. He believed that replacing old and experienced players, who were under-performing, with younger players would yield success.
Most recently, the former Indian ‘keeper played a cameo role in a TV soap called Tamanna, where he played the role of a guide to a budding female cricketer. According to reports, he also trained Sushant Singh Rajput for the role of MS Dhoni in the recently released biopic, MS Dhoni: The Untold Story.
#9 Arshad Ayub
The off-spinner, Arshad Ayub, had a forgettable performance in Tendulkar's debut match. While batting is not his primary attribute, he failed with the ball as well. He did not manage to pick up a single wicket in either innings and scored just one run in the first innings.
His dismal run in the Pakistan tour signaled the end of his international career. However, he went on to captain the Hyderabad side in the domestic circuit until the 1993-94 season. Post retirement, he set up the Arshad Ayub Cricket Academy (AACA) in 1998, an academy that has produced numerous fine talents.
In 2010, he briefly acted as the manager for the Indian Cricket team for a tour in Bangladesh and currently holds the office as the President of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). However, recently a complaint was lodged that players from the AACA were being given more prominence when it came to selection.
It was declared that Ayub could not hold both the posts at the same time, and he was forced to quit his academy. He continues as the President of the HCA, a post he has held since his election in 2014.
#10 Salil Ankola
Salil Ankola was Tendulkar's roommate throughout the tour in Pakistan and made his international debut alongside the batting maestro. The right arm fast bowler picked up two wickets in the first Test match against Pakistan, one in each innings and did not contribute much with the bat.
He was a part of the Indian squad for the 1996 World Cup. However, a sudden development of bone tumor in his left shin bone cut his playing career short and he was forced into early retirement at the age of 28. He last played for India in a triangular series with Zimbabwe and South Africa in 1997.
After retirement, Ankola took to acting and has since then acted in a number of movies and television dailies. His acting career kickstarted in 2000 with the Hindi film Kurukshetra. He followed it up with appearances in Pitaah (2002), Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne (2003) and Silence Please...The Dressing Room(2004).
Ankola also took part in reality shows like Bigg Boss in 2006 and went on to act in TV soaps. However, the former Indian cricketer had to undergo rehabilitation for severe addiction to alcohol in 2008.
Controversy never left the cricketer-turned-actor, as in 2013 his ex-wife was found hanging from a ceiling fan. Most recently, he has appeared on the silver screen and was in the news when his daughter’s marriage with Sandeep Patil’s son was announced.
Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download CricRocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more! 🚀☄️
