On this day: Born April 24, 1973: Sachin Tendulkar, Indian cricketer

FILE PHOTO: Born on April 24, 1973: Sachin Tendulkar, Indian Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar poses after winning the Laureus Best Sporting Moment award for "Carried on the shoulders of a nation" during the Laureus World Sports Awards 2020 in Berlin, Germany February 17, 2020. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo

(Reuters) - Sachin Tendulkar compiled a mountain of runs for almost a quarter of a century and reached cricket's dizzying heights by defying a burden of expectation that would have crushed lesser mortals.

Whenever Tendulkar came to the crease, India's billion-plus population made secret deals with gods, froze where they were, clutched lucky charms and indulged in all sorts of superstitions.