Widely regarded as the greatest batter to play for India, Sachin Tendulkar will be celebrating his 50th birthday on Monday (April 24).

However, the batting legend cut his birthday cake on Saturday (April 22) during the 31st match of the IPL 2023 between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Wankhede Stadium.

Speaking to Ravi Shastri, Tendulkar said he has enjoyed scoring this half-century.

“This is the slowest half-century of my life, the most interesting and fulfilling one. Highs and lows and I’ve totally enjoyed scoring this 50. It’s taught me a lot in life. Above all given me the honour of representing the nation for 24 years," Sachin stated.

“24 years in the game and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. If anyone gave me a choice and an option to choose something else. I wouldn’t settle for anything else. This is the best thing that has happened in my life and this is all I wanted in my life. Because the dream started in 1983 and I started chasing that dream. And I’m still living that dream and it has been a beautiful journey," he added.

In a career spanning 24 years, Tendulkar played 200 Tests and 463 ODIs for India, scoring the world record number of runs (15921 in Tests and 18426 in ODIs) and centuries (51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs). He also holds the record for being the first man to score 10,000 runs in ODI cricket, first batter to score 100 international centuries, first male cricketer to score a double ton in ODIs, most matches played in both formats and other numerous milestones.

Even though he retired from international cricket almost 10 years ago, Sachin Tendulkar’s craze among the Indian fans hasn’t gone down one bit. During the MI-PBKS clash, fans in the stands sported Sachin Tendulkar masks and chanted “Sachin, Sachin” at the end of the 10th over in the first innings.

Talking about the change in cricket over the years, Tendulkar said: “The game before the game has changed immensely and post-2008, when the first year of IPL and more so Test cricket, I would say, more or less the same. The pace has increased a little bit because of T20 and ODI format due to the change in rules, the average totals have become much much higher and I have gone on record saying that you know, the game has become faster. And obviously, this format of the game is moving at a different pace altogether."

“Even in the IPL, the totals have average totals are much much higher. Earlier we were looking at around 181-85, but now it’s more than 200. Yes the game is changing," he further remarked.