Tendulkar, playing his 152nd match after his debut in 1989, at the start of the first day of the second Test against Australia at Mohali required 15 runs to go past West Indies great Lara’s 11,953 runs, which he made in 131 games.

The ‘Little Master’ then needed two runs having gone to tea 13 not out. But with the first ball after the break, he guided debutant Peter Siddle behind point for three runs to reach the landmark. He was eventually out in the 82nd over for 88, ironically caught off Siddle. India closed on 311-5 after winning the toss.

On the historic moment, all of the Australian fielders approached Tendulkar to shake his hand and offer their congratulations, while a five-minute delay ensued after a machine gun-like crack of fireworks was set off.

The whole stadium stood for Indian great including spectators, press and TV commentators. Tendulkar also has the most runs in one-day international cricket and the most centuries in both forms of the game too.

Opposing player and Australia captain Ricky Ponting, with 10,239 runs from 120 matches, remains the most obvious threat to Tendulkar’s new record as he is two years the junior of Tendulkar and is expected to play for at least another four years to oversee Australia’s transition into a new era having already lost many senior players to retirement.

Tendulkar, though, with every barren series he plays, is facing increasing scrutiny along with the likes of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman to bow out and follow Sourav Ganguly into the international wilderness. Incidentally, Ganguly was the non-striker when Tendulkar made history and he ended 54 not out at stumps.

Earlier in the day, India were off to a flying start as Virender Sehwag (35 from 36 balls) and Gautam Gambhir (67) put on 70 for the first wicket. They were also 146-1 but then on the fall of Rahul Dravid’s wicket, for 39 when he was bowled by Brett Lee, India lost three wikets for 17 runs.

Record run-scorers in Tests:

1) Sachin Tendulkar (India 1989-) 11,954 runs in 151 matches (still batting)
2) Brian Lara (West Indies 1990-2006) 11,953 runs in 131 matches
3) Allan Border (Australia 1978-1994) 11,174 runs in 156 matches
4) Steve Waugh (Australia 1985-1004) 10,927 runs in 168 matches
5) Rahul Dravid (India 1996-) 10,302 runs in 126 matches
6) Ricky Ponting (Australia 1995-) 10,239 runs in 120 matches
7) Sunil Gavaskar (India 1971-1987) 10,122 runs in 125 matches
8) Jacques Kallis (South Africa 1995-) 9,761 runs in 123 matches
9) Graham Gooch (England 1975-1995) 8,900 runs in 118 matches
10) Javed Miandad (Pakistan 1976-1993) 8,832 runs in 124 matches