Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar celebrated his 53rd birthday with family members at his residence in Mumbai on Friday.
He cut a cake in the presence of his wife Anjali Tendulkar and close family, while a large number of fans gathered outside his home to extend their wishes.
After the celebrations, Tendulkar interacted with fans, posing for selfies and signing autographs amid tight police security.
Acknowledging the crowd, he said, “Thank you for all the good wishes.”
Born on April 24, 1973, Tendulkar is regarded as one of the greatest batters in cricket history and remains the highest run-scorer in international cricket.
He holds the record for the most centuries in both Tests and One Day Internationals, a remarkable achievement considering he scored his first ODI hundred only in his 79th match.
Among those present was Sudhir Gautam, one of India’s most well-known cricket fans, who has followed the national team across venues since 2007.
“I always pray for Sachin Sir’s long life, and after this, I will go to visit Siddhi Vinayak Temple so that Sachin Sir can live a long life,” Sudhir said.
“Sachin sir has retired. But even today, I have the Tendulkar 10 in my heart. Even today, I write the Tendulkar 10 for Team India and cheer for Team India. As long as I am on earth, I will keep cheering,” he added.
Known for painting his body in the colours of the national flag and displaying Tendulkar’s name, Sudhir has become a familiar presence at Indian matches.
Following India’s 2011 World Cup victory, Tendulkar invited him into the dressing room, where he celebrated with the team and held the trophy.
With 34,357 international runs to his name, Tendulkar remains the most prolific run-scorer in the history of the sport, having set numerous records during his illustrious career.