Much of Tendulkar’s greatness comes from his ability to consistently fulfill those vast expectations. Few players have left so comprehensive a mark in the record books. Simply put, Tendulkar was the greatest batsman of his generation, with every kind of shot in his arsenal, from conventional drives and punches to improvised strokes that could take the breath away.

Tendulkar will become the first man to play 200 five-day tests, and he has already played more one-day international matches, 463, than anyone else. He is the highest career run scorer in both formats. He is also a rarity: a child prodigy who exceeded his potential. He was the youngest active test cricketer when he made his debut in 1989 at 16. He leaves the game 24 years later as the oldest active international player. And his accomplishments continued into the twilight of his career: In 2011, he was India’s top run scorer as it won the World Cup for the first time in 28 years. His extraordinary numbers of matches and runs do reflect the increase in the number of international cricket matches played in recent years. But if there is a doubt where he ranks historically, consider that Tendulkar was the only active player named by Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack to its all-time team last month. The Almanack, the sport’s leading chronicle, had 150 years of cricket to choose from.