He's Naturally Left-Handed
It might come as a shock, but the man who became the world's most prolific right-handed batsman is actually a natural lefty. Sachin writes, eats, and performs most daily tasks with his left hand. However, when it came to cricket, he picked up the bat with his right.
He has humorously noted the one exception to his ambidextrous abilities is using chopsticks, which he can only manage with his right hand, the same one he used to master the art of batting.
The Prized Coins from His Coach
During his formative years, Sachin's coach, Ramakant Achrekar, had a unique way of motivating the young prodigy. Achrekar would place a one-rupee coin on top of the stumps during net sessions. Any bowler who managed to dismiss Sachin would win the coin. But if Sachin survived the entire session without getting out, the coin was his. Tendulkar collected 13 of these coins, and he considers them among his most prized possessions, even more valuable than many of the glittering trophies he would later earn.
He Once Fielded for Pakistan
In an unusual twist of fate, Sachin Tendulkar took the field for Pakistan before he ever played for India. In 1988, during a festival match between India and Pakistan at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium, he was sent on as a substitute fielder for the visiting team. He was just a boy in the stands before being called upon, giving him a taste of an international atmosphere from the 'other' side long before his official debut.
A Fast Bowler in the Making?
The greatest batsman of his generation initially wanted to be a fast bowler. In 1987, a young Sachin attended the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai, hoping to hone his skills as a speedster. However, the legendary Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee, who was the coach, was unimpressed with his bowling. Lillee wisely advised him to forget about bowling and focus entirely on his batting. It turned out to be one of the most pivotal pieces of advice in cricket history.
His First Car Was a Humble Maruti 800
While he later became known for his enviable collection of luxury cars, including a famous Ferrari gifted by Michael Schumacher, Sachin's first-ever car was a modest Maruti 800. It was the quintessential Indian family car of the 1980s and his first major purchase as a professional cricketer. Years later, he expressed a desire to find and buy back that very car, highlighting the sentimental value he attaches to his journey from humble beginnings.
The First Batsman Out by a Third Umpire
Sachin holds countless 'firsts' in cricket, but one is a quirky piece of trivia. In 1992, during a series against South Africa in Durban, he became the first batsman in the history of international cricket to be given out by a third umpire. A run-out appeal was referred to the television umpire, Karl Liebenberg, who ruled him out, marking a new technological era in the sport with one of its biggest names at the centre of it.
A Champagne Bottle He Saved for Eight Years
When Sachin won his first Man of the Match award in a Test match in 1990, he was presented with a bottle of magnum champagne. However, being just 17 at the time, he was not legally old enough to drink alcohol in the UK. Instead of giving it away, he chose to preserve it. He finally popped the cork eight years later, in 1998, to celebrate his daughter Sara's first birthday.
