The evolution of Sachin Tendulkar: in pictures

Tendulkar's domestic career really took off in 1988 when he scored a stunning 326 not out against St. Xavier's School in a Harris Shield inter-school tournament.

In the process, he strung together an unbroken 664-run partnership with Vinod Kambli, a record which was broken in 2006.

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After some brilliant performances in the Ranji Trophy, Tendulkar made his international debut against Pakistan at the Karachi Test in November 1989.

Aged just 16, he showed remarkable courage against the pace and guile of the Pakistani pace attack. He later scored a quickfire 53 off 18 balls on that tur, hitting Abdul Qadir for four sixes in an over.

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In September 1994, Tendulkar scored his first ODI century against Australia at Colombo. Little did the world know that he would go on to score 48 more after it.