Tendulkar keeps adding to his book of records

Sachin Tendulkar's name has become synonymous with records over the years.

- Scorecard | Match Report

Save the one for the best batting average – Sir Don Bradman's impeccable 99.94 leads that one by a huge margin – the Master Blaster has almost every other record in his name, the format notwithstanding.

However, the holder of a plethora of records is never content with his existing set of achievements. Tendulkar prefers to keep adding to the record books.

The Irani Cup tie against Rest of India at the Wankhede stadium was no different.

The Master Blaster had come into the match trying to equal the legendary Sunil Gavaskar's record of most first class hundreds by an Indian.

The mere anticipation had packed in a few thousand people at the Wankhede. And Tendulkar didn't disappoint.

Playing a calculated innings, with Mumbai losing wickets at the other end, the Master Blaster got into the 90s in quick time, combing aggression with caution and giving ample demonstration of his class.

An exquisite cover drive of Sreesanth, soon after the second new ball was taken, got Tendulkar to 99. He duly reached the landmark with a single in the bowler's next over.

It was the Master Blaster's 81st first class hundred, equalling the national record of Little Master.

Another splendid straight drive in Sreesanth's next over, the 13th boundary of his innings, helped Tendulkar complete 25,000 first class runs, in what was his 303rd match.

The year started on a good note for Tendulkar, a little over two months short of his 40th birthday. He had featured in just four of Mumbai's 11 Ranji Trophy games this season.

The Master Blaster played in Mumbai's opener, scoring a hundred (137) against Railways before subsequently left the team to represent India in the home Test series against England.

Though available for Mumbai's final group game against Gujarat at the DY Patil Stadium (Nerul), a match that the home team needed to avoided defeat to assure a berth in the knockout stages, having just announced his retirement from One Day Internationals, the Master Blaster skipped the match, preferring to take a family holiday instead.

However, once Mumbai made it to the knock outs, Tendulkar made was available, in what was a timely boost for the team.

The 39-year-old returned with another hundred (108) as Mumbai got the better of Baroda in the quarter-finals at the Wankhede stadium.

He made 56 in the semi-finals against Services at the Palam Ground, a rain-affected match that went into the sixth day, with Mumbai going through on the basis of the first innings lead.

Mumbai scored a thumping innings and 125-run win over Saurashtra to win their 40th Ranji title, the fifth occasion that Tendulkar had been part of the side that won the country's premier domestic competition.

And now with a record equalling hundred in the Irani Cup, and 25,000 first class runs to boot, Tendulkar has ensured he is fully prepared ahead of the home series against Australia.

Going by his insatiable appetite for runs, the Master Blaster might just as well end up creating a few new records in that series as well.