Sachin Tendulkar was born on 24 April, 1973. It is a day for which India and the whole cricketing world in particular will forever be thankful. But this is not the only reason why number 24 is special for the ‘God’ of cricket.

Exactly 8 years ago, on 24 February 2010, the master blaster scored the first ever double hundred by a male cricketer in a one day international (ODI) match. He achieved this feat against South Africa at the Captain Roop Singh International stadium in Gwalior. Sachin hit 25 fours and three sixes in that innings and became the first man to score a double hundred in ODI cricket. It was for the first time in the 40 years history of ODI’s that a batsman had scored 200. Sachin also remained not out. This innings is important because it broke the mental barrier of 200 runs in a single innings in ODI as after Sachin, this task has been achieved by four other batsmen.

Even before arriving on the international stage, the 'Master' had done something spectacular on 24th. Playing for their school team, Sachin and his school cricket friend, Vinod Kambli, on 24th February, 1988 had put together a record 664 runs partnership which was a world record back then. The batting legend himself took note of the fact and tweeted saying that 24 is a lucky date for him.

Sachin had also scored his famous 134 against Australia at Sharjah on 24th April, 1998 on his 25th Birthday. India won the match and the Coca-Cola series thanks to that knock and the hundred he scored in the previous match. Both his hundreds are known as the 'Desert Storm' innings.

Sachin Tendulkar was a devotee of Sathya Sai Baba and considered him his ‘Guru’. 24 April, 2011 is the day when Sathya Sai Baba passed away but in Indian tradition, the passing away of a holy figure is considered as ‘Samadhi’ (meaning the act of leaving this body). Hence 24 April is also the ‘Samadhi’ day of Sachin’s guru which makes 24 even more important for him.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 24, 2018 06:22 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).