Sachin Tendulkar's First International Century

On August 14, 1990, a 17-year-old Sachin Tendulkar scored 119 not out against England at Old Trafford, Manchester, in his ninth Test match — saving India from defeat with a display of maturity and technique that belied his age. It was the first of his 100 international centuries — a record that may never be broken. Tendulkar would go on to become cricket's greatest batsman and India's most beloved sportsperson. Over a 24-year career (1989-2013), he scored 34,357 runs across Tests and ODIs, held virtually every batting record, and played 200 Test matches. But statistics barely capture his significance. In a cricket-obsessed nation of over a billion people, Tendulkar transcended sport: streets emptied when he batted, his dismissal affected the stock market, and his retirement was mourned like a national loss. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna — India's highest civilian honor — the day after his final Test match.