Lucknow, October 19: Sachin Tendulkar's decision to make a rare appearance in domestic cricket has sent the pulse of statistics-minded cricket fans racing in the hope that the master batsman may after all have a chance to overhaul two long-standing first-class records in India.
Tendulkar is just four centuries away from overtaking Sunil Gavaskar's Indian record of 81 first-class centuries and 1,383 runs from becoming the highest first-class run-getter in the country. But time is fast running out for Tendulkar.
Tendulkar holds almost all records in Tests and One-dayers, but he trails Gavaskar as far as records in first-class cricket are concerned. Gavaskar played 348 first class matches in which he aggregated 25,843 runs and collected 81 centuries, a record for an Indian batsman.
Tendulkar in 294 first-class games, which also includes 190 Test matches, has 24,452 runs and 78 centuries, second behind Gavaskar.
Tendulkar himself realises he doesn't have much cricket left in him, possibly a dozen or so Test matches. Probably, one would expect him to retire after he completes a double century of Test matches some time next year. Currently he stands at 190 and has eight Test matches lined up before he turns 40 next April.
In that limited time, will he be able to garner four more centuries and 1382 runs? That will enable him to retire as the highest century-maker and run-getter in first-class cricket in India, besides being the highest run-getter in Tests and ODIs in the world.
Of late, centuries are hard to come by for Tendulkar who has just one Test century in last two years and his last first-class ton came against Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy semifinal in January 2009. The subsequent final against Uttar Pradesh was his last domestic appearance in three years.
Tendulkar hardly plays first-class games other than Tests in the hope that he can preserve his body a bit longer. He has even semi-retired from the ODI format. The biggest question now in is: Will the impeding first-class record motivate him to step more often onto the dusty pitches on which domestic cricket is played? That, only time will tell.
The Legends In Numbers...
Tendulkar has 51 centuries in Tests and 27 centuries in other first-class cricket, and currently stands at 78, second behind Gavaskar in the Indian list.
Gavaskar finished with 34 Test centuries in 125 Tests and 47 centuries in 223 other first- class games for a grand tally of 81 centuries in 348 first class games, which also include Test matches.
Tendulkar has 51 centuries in 190 Tests and 27 tons in 104 other first class matches for a total of 78 centuries in 277 matches.
Gavaskar had only 35 international centuries: 34 in Tests and one in ODIs, to Tendulkar's 100, 51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs.
Gavaskar played only 108 ODIs for an aggregate of 3092 runs, Tendulkar has played a phenomenal 490 games and has 15550 runs to his credit.
Gavaskar has 13214 runs in 233 international games (125 tests and 108 ODIs) Tendulkar has 33959 runs in 63 international matches (190 tests and 463 ODIS)
Tendulkar's 78 centuries: 51 in Tests, 16 in Ranji Trophy, 1 for Mumbai in tour match against the Australians, 3 for West Zone in Duleep Trophy, 5 for Indians in overseas tour matches, 1 for Rest of India in Irani Cup and 1 for Yorkshire in county cricket.
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