From the moment he picked up a cricket bat, Sachin Tendulkar was destined for greatness.
Mumbai, who called the Boy Wonder, even before Sachin had reached adolescence.
Here's a look at the early years when a young prodigy took his first step towards immortality.
Over two decades, a prophetic fragment conversation took place in the locker room in Perth, Australia. The Age reported that after a day of trying to get a 18-year-old youth, Merv Hughes cracked open a beer and told his captain Allan Border: "This little prick's going to get more runs than you, AB" .
Tendulkar was born in Bombay (now Mumbai). His father, Ramesh Tendulkar, Marathi novelist, named Tendulkar after his favorite music director, Sachin Dev Burman. Tendulkar brother Ajit encouraged him to play cricket. Tendulkar has two other siblings: a brother Nitin, and sister Savita. Tendulkar attended Sharadashram Vidyamandir (High School), where he began his cricket career under the guidance of his coach and mentor, Ramakant Achrekar. During his studies, he attended the MRF Pace Foundation to form a fast bowler, but Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee, who had a record of 355 test wickets world was impressed, suggesting that the focus on Tendulkar's stick instead.
