Tendulkar Bows Out! #ThanksSachin!

The day has come - the day that all cricket fans dreaded really.

The little maestro, the great man, Sachin Tendulkar has retired from all forms of cricket at the ripe old age of 40. The resounding defeat of the West Indies by India within 3 days was completed on Saturday meaning that Tendulkar's last innings will forever be remembered for two things - 74 and Narsingh Deonarine.

Sachin Tendulkar, born April 24, 1973 in Bombay (now Mumbai), made his first class debut as a 15 year old in the 1988/89 season - the same season he made his test debut for India against Pakistan in Karachi where he made 15 in his first ever innings before being bowled by the great Waqar Younis.

Tendulkar's first of 51 centuries - the most for any cricketer by a long way - came against England at Old Trafford on 9 August 1990 when he scored 119 not out. His magnificent 241 against Australia in 2003/04 in Sydney ranks as one of the greatest test tons ever seen in international cricket - only 7 shy of his highest test score of 248 which came against Bangladesh later that season.

Tendulkar achieved the 100th ton in all cricket - tests and one dayers - with his 49th ton in one day cricket against Bangladesh in March 2012 - he had taken some time to get there.

Tendulkar had already retired from one day international cricket in December last year and played his last Twenty20 game last weekend when he led the Mumbai Indians - who the Volts had drawn earlier in the tournament - to Champions League victory over the Rajasthan Royals led by long time teammate and batting partner in the national side, Rahul Dravid.

He has won it all! Winning the World Cup in 2011 at home - a bit like McCaw and the ABs really.

It wasn't just Tendulkar's elegant batting that enchanted cricketing fans all over the world, but his exploits with ball in hand whether as a bowler or fielder were absolutely world class. It was that reputation which has made him a multi millionaire in his home country and almost like a god and even in retirement, expect the little maestro to still be a man in demand whether it's at home or abroad.

And even with all his fame, he was still very much a humble man who didn't go into the shenanigans that came with being a famous athlete like many of his contemporaries.

The last of the great batsmen from our childhood is gone and an era is coming to a close.

Here's to the little maestro, the Don Bradman and WG Grace of our time.