Sachin Tendulkar retires from ODI

Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday announced his retirement from One Day International cricket, finishing his 23-year-long ODI career. 

The Master Blaster retired from the 50-overs cricket after scoring a record-breaking 49 centuries from 463 appearances.

"I have decided to retire from the one-day format of the game," Tendulkar said in a statement  released by the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India).

"I feel blessed to have fulfilled the dream of being part of a World Cup winning Indian team [in 2011]," the Mumbai batsman added further.

Since making his ODI debut against Pakistan in December 1989, Tendulkar went on to play 463 matches for his country, amassing a tally of 18426 runs, studded with 96 half centuries and 49 centuries, each of them a world record. His last one-day appearance for India was also against the archrivals Pakistan in Dhaka during the Asia Cup in March, where he scored a half century to help his side register a six-wicket win.

The 39-year-old Indian batting legend, who is the world’s top run getter in one-day cricket, said that he was quitting to allow the Indian selectors to build a team for the next 50-over World Cup, to be held in Australia and New Zealand in early 2015.

"The preparatory process to defend the World Cup in 2015 should begin early... I would like to wish the team all the very best for the future," he said.

"Winning the World Cup [in 2011] is the proudest moment of my life. ... I couldn't control my tears of joy," added Tendulkar, who was part of the Indian squad that lifted the coveted trophy at his home ground Wankhede Stadium on April 2 last year.

Tendulkar also thanked his fans for their support and love over the years, saying, "I am eternally grateful to all my well-wishers for their unconditional support and love over the years."

Whilst the Indian batting legend has announced his retirement from the ODI format, it remains unclear if he would continue to play Test cricket, where he is also the leading run scorer with a tally of 15,645 runs from 194 matches at an average exceeding 54.