India legend Sachin Tendulkar will always be known as one of cricket’s all-time stars, but he arguably achieved his most notable feat on this day in 2008.
Sachin Tendulkar has been retired from Test cricket for eight years having produced one of the most iconic careers in modern-day sport.
The India legend still sits 2,543 runs ahead of anyone else in the list for Test runs, and there is not an active player who is within 6,000 runs of breaking his record.
Tendulkar, then 35 years of age, moved his name to the top of those standings on this day in 2008 as India squared off against Australia in Mohali.
Just 15 runs were required to eclipse the mark of West Indies batsman Brian Lara, and Tendulkar managed that with minimal fuss on the opening day of the second Test.
Upon finishing a well-run three off the bowling of Peter Siddle, fireworks greeted Tendulkar’s spectacular achievement, one he later described as the most notable of his then 19-year career.
Tendulkar’s knock during the first innings helped India to a 320-run victory, giving his side a 1-0 lead in the best-of-four series.
While a total of six players have since moved past Lara, they did not have the longevity to ever threaten Tendulkar’s final total of 15,921 runs from 200 Tests.