Tendulkar celebrates his ‘slowest half-century’

Legendary India batter Sachin Tendulkar's 50th birthday was celebrated two days early on Saturday during the Indian Premier League clash between Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings at his home ground Wankhede Stadium.

Tendulkar cut a cake near the Mumbai Indians' dugout during the second strategic break in the first innings.

Speaking with former India all-rounder and head coach Ravi Shastri, he said this has been the slowest but the most interesting and fulfilling fifty of his life. 

"This has been the slowest fifty of my life but the most fulfilling one and interesting one. It's a package of highs and lows. I've thoroughly enjoyed scoring this fifty, it has taught me a lot. Above all, it has given me the honor of representing India for 24 years," said Tendulkar.

Interestingly, this year also marks 10 years since Tendulkar retired from international cricket at the Wankhede Stadium. 

As part of the arrangement for Tendulkar's birthday celebration, face masks were placed on every seat in the 30,000-capacity stadium. There was also a special Tendulkar installation in place outside the Garware pavilion at the Wankhede.

The batting legend wore jersey No. 10 for India and Mumbai Indians, and after the 10th over of Punjab Kings' innings, the stadium was reverberated with the familiar chant of 'Sachin… Sachin'.

"Sachin made the no 10 jersey iconic in cricket and this year will mark 10 years to the last match he played for India, which had come at the Wankhede Stadium. On that occasion, Saturday will be all about celebrating the glorious career of the highest run getter of all time and India's most capped Test and ODI player," the franchise said earlier in a release.