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When the sun sets in Mumbai on November 18, that will be Sachin Tendulkar’s final day in creams.
It will be the end of the second Test against the Windies, fittingly Sachin’s 200th cap, and in Sachin’s home city – the perfect finale to a stunning career.
No-one has played 200 Tests and no-one has scored more Test and ODI runs – Sachin owns the lot.
It’s taken the 40-year-old 24 years to accumulate, from the tender age of 16. That’s longevity for you.
Cold hard stats are one thing, but when you compare Tendulkar with other greats, the stats have more meaning.
The best guide is the list of contenders for the fastest run-getters to milestones.
To 1,000 Test runs – Everton Weekes and Herbert Sutcliffe 12 digs, Don Bradman 13, Ricky Ponting 27, and Tendulkar 28,
2,000 – Bradman 22, George Headley 32, Tendulkar 44, and Ponting 50.
3,000 – Bradman 33, Weekes 51, Tendulkar 67, Ponting 77l
4,000 – Bradman 48, Sutcliffe 51, Tendulkat 86, Ponting 96,
5,000 – Bradman 56, Jack Hobbs 91, Tendulkar 103, Ponting 110.
6,000 – Bradman 68, Gary Sobers 111, Tendulkar 120, Ponting 125 – the Don bowed out there after his final-dig duck at The Oval in 1948.
7,000 – Wally Hammond 131, Tendulkar 136, Ponting 145.
8,000 – Kumar Sangakkara 152, Tendulkar 154, Ponting 165,
9,000 – Sangakkara 152, Ponting 177, Tendulkar 179,
10,000 – Brian Lara 195, Tendulkar 195, Ponting 196.
11,000 – Lara 213, Ponting 222, Tendulkar 223.
12,000 – Tendulkar 247, Ponting 247, Javques Kallis 249.
13,000 – Tendulkar 266, Kallis 269, Ponting 275.
From there Sachin’s been on his own, passing 14,000 in his 279th dig, and 15,000 in exactly his 300th.
So what do those stats tell us?
The greatest batsman of all time is the Don, undisputed. His average of 99.94 will never be surpassed, especially on uncovered wickets, and bigger grounds not roped off as they are today.
And the quick men, with the back-foot rule that allowed drag, meant most of them bowled from 18 yards.
Having said that, Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest of the modern day batsmen by sheer weight of numbers.
He’s had an absorbing battle with Ponting over the years, but now the ‘Punter’ has retired, there’s no-one left who can bridge the gap.
It was said early in Tendulkar’s career that he could he be another Sunil Gavaskar. He’s left Sunny well in his wake.
The next question is will Cheteshwar Pujara be the next Sachin Tendulkar?
He’s started well, averaging 65.55 from 22 digs with four Test tons and three half centuries.
Pujara was faster than both Tendulkar and Gavaskar to 1,000 Test runs – Pujara 18 digs, Gavaskar 21, and Tendulkar 28.
But there’s a long long way to go, and I won’t be around to see the result.
I make one prediction, no batsman will ever score 100 international 100s as Sachin has done – 51 Tests, and 49 ODIs.
The closest is Ricky Ponting with a combined 71, and Jacques Kallis with 61, both a binocular distance behind.
Sufficient to say Sachin Tendulkar has been an ornament to the grand old game, and will be sorely missed.
He’s been a once in a lifetime batsman, just as The Don was before him.
And it’s been a privilege to watch him perform for 24 years.