Sachin Tendulkar turned 40 today. Attributed the status of God on cricket, though he modestly doesn't accept it, there are several reasons which make him worthy of the title. While every one knows Sachin's highest score in ODI's is 200 and he is the only man to have score 100 tons blah blah blah there are a few facts that most people might not be knowing. At least, I learnt a few of them today, so 40 Tendlya facts on his 40th birthday for you

1. If you were wondering, Tendlya is his nickname.
2. Sachin once played for Pakistan in a practice session.
3. Sachin's dream was to become a fast bowler when he entered the game but Dennis Lillie told him that he wasn't the “pace” material.
4. Sachin played his first international cricket match with the pads gifted by his favorite player, Sunil Gavaskar.
5. The first international ball faced by Tendulkar was bowled by debut international player Wakar Younis, Pakistan.
6. Sachin acted in only one movie, Stumped, in 2003.
7. Sachin who represented India in six world cups was the ball boy in 1987 world cup.
8. Sachin's grandpa named him in memory of Sachin Dev Burman, the legendary musician.
9. Lords, England, is the only international ground on which Tendulkar has not scored a century.
10. Sachin's last ODI wicket was Shoaib Malik's from Pakistan.
11. Only Anderson, England, has the credit of taking the Sachin's wicket 9 times.
12. Sachin's favorite ground is the SCG, Sydney Australia.
13. Most of Sachin's centuries come from Colombo, Sri Lanka. Ten of them.
14. Sachin adores Amitabh Bachchan and Kishore Kumar in Bollywood.
15. Sachin played 78 games before he scored a century in ODIs.
16. Inzamam Ul Haq fell prey to Tendlya's bowling for the most times. 7 times in tests and one ODI.
17. Sachin never made a test century in Hyderabad and Kanpur.
18. Ashley giles is proud to be the only person to get Sachin stumped in test. His only stump out.
19. Coming to America is Sachin's favorite movie
20. Boris Becker, Tennis; Maradona, Football; are Sachin's idols.
21. Sachin played in 90 grounds over the world.
22. Krishnamachary Srikanth was the captain of India when Sachin made his debut.
23. Pedro Collins,WI got Sachin on a duck twice consecutively.
24. Dravid and Sachin in Hyderabad had highest partnership making 331 runs against NZ. That is his personal best in a partnership.
25. Sachin had 5 test centuries to his name before he was 20 years old. The record still stands to date.
26. He was out on a duck in his debut test match.
27. Sachin played for an England County, Yorkshire.
28. In once instance of test matches, Sachin opened the game for India against NZ in 1999.
29. In domestic cricket, Anil Kumble and Sachin were never pitted against each other.
30. Sachin's record of 664 in Harris trophy with Kumble is well known. The most expensive bowler on the opponent team also made it to Indian cricket, Sairaj Bahutule.
31. Sachin has just one T20 to his name, against Kochi Tuskers in IPL.
32. Likewise, he has only one T20 wicket. Justin Kemp of South Africa.
33. Sachin is the first person to be dismissed by 3rd Umpire technology after it was introduced. Johnty Rhodes dismissed him in the game.
34. Sachin was gifted an expensive Ferrari for equalling the record of Sir Don Bradman of 29 test centuries.
35. Sachin is the 10th highest wicket taker in India
36. Sachin once sneaked into a movie theater in disguise. But the fans could make out his fake appearance. The movie was Roja.
37. Sachin uses a very heavy bat. Did you know that his bats weigh 1.451 kilos precisely?
38. Gilchrist as a wicketkeeper dismissed Sachin the most number of times.
39. In his debut test game, Sachin came in as the sixth batsman (4-down)
40. Sachin participated in only one T20 which was then led by Sehwag

How many of these facts did you know?

(AW- Anil)