NEW DELHI: Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar urged the younger players not to be distracted by disruptions during Saturday’s Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Awards 2025 in Mumbai.
Tendulkar was presented with the Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition to the remarkable achievement of reaching 100 hundreds, the Master Blaster continues to hold the records for most runs in Test and ODI matches.
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At the annual ‘Naman Awards’ function of the BCCI, ICC Chairman Jay Shah gave the Lifetime Achievement Award to India icon Sachin Tendulkar.
Speaking at the ceremony, Tendulkar urged the youngsters to cherish what they have and act responsibly in order to advance the game and the reputation of the nation.
“Without cricket all of us would not be sitting in this room, for me it (cricket) has been the ultimate gift of life. We have bat and ball and is there is no solid grip over that you start losing grip over bat and ball, kind of slowly start losing grip over your career also,” Tendulkar said.
“I should not be giving you advice and saying, stay focused, whatever. But there’ll be distractions. Don’t let them disrupt your career. Value everything that we have. And look after your game. It is about we all have managed when we did not have anything. It is important to value when we have everything and behave in the appropriate manner to take the game forward and the country’s name. You all are current cricketers, there is plenty of cricket left in you. Just go out, give your best, and make the most of this opportunity, because you’ll only realize once you’ve stopped playing cricket, where you were few years ago,” Tendulkar added.
From 1989 to 2013, Tendulkar, dubbed the “God of Cricket,” delighted cricket fans all over the world with his unmatched talent and brilliance. At the age of 16, Tendulkar made his Test debut on November 15, 1989, and on December 18 of the same year, he played in his first ODI.
Tendulkar is still the leading run scorer in international cricket with 34,357 runs at an average of 48.52 in 664 appearances. His record of 100 centuries and 164 half-centuries is unrivaled in the history of the sport. Tendulkar played a record 200 Test matches and became the first batsman to reach a double century in ODIs.
Tendulkar later posted on X: “Deeply honoured to receive the Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award. My cricketing journey, which spanned 24 years was never mine alone. It belonged to every coach’s guidance, every teammate’s trust, every fan’s unwavering support and my family’s belief, love and sacrifices. This award is a reminder to keep giving back to the sport and the people that gave me everything. To the @BCCI and every cricket lover: thank you for letting me bat for India with an open heart and limitless boundaries.”
Tendulkar scored 18,426 runs at an average of 44.83 in ODIs, including 96 half-centuries and 49 hundreds. He amassed 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78 in Test cricket, with 51 hundreds and 68 fifties. Following his 1992 World Cup debut, Tendulkar’s lifetime desire came true in 2011 when he was a member of India’s ICC Cricket World Cup winning squad.
