'The only challenge he has is to beat himself'

"For him, a Test match begins two days earlier, preparing for it. He wants to face the maximum number of balls at the nets. You will not see him play a loose shot at the nets."
Gary Kirsten, India's coach, praises Tendulkar's work ethic

"The only challenge he has is to beat himself every time he walks out there because he has done almost everything."
There's little left for Tendulkar to achieve, says Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara

"When we used to play, we thought no one can break Sunil Gavaskar's record. No one could think about 50 Test centuries at that time. This is certainly a big knock under the circumstances, better than the 200s and 300s."
Kapil Dev, the former India captain, sizes up the feat

"There wouldn't be one side in the world that wouldn't want Sachin as their first wicket, pointing their ship toward victory."
Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden presents the opposition's point of view

"I try to watch the matches in which he is playing because I have not seen anyone gifted with such natural technical batting excellence, which he has combined with his hard work and commitment. He is indeed a phenomena and a role model for every young batsman."
Hanif Mohammad, the former Pakistan batsman, admires Tendulkar's perseverance

"I've never imagined that someone can go this level and play for more than 20 years. It's an incredible feat."
Graeme Pollock is impressed by Tendulkar's longevity

"I'd like to ask him just how he has managed to work so hard to stay at the top for so long and what advice he'd give other sportsmen."
The fastest man on earth, Usain Bolt, is a fan

"If I'm a cricketer, it's because of Sachin Tendulkar. Else, I would have never picked up a bat. He's the reason behind me playing cricket."
Virender Sehwag gives us another reason to be thankful for Tendulkar

"It was clear to us even when he walked out to bat in that Test as a teenager that he had talent. The fact that he has been around for 21 years and done justice to that god-gifted talent in both forms of the game is an achievement any cricketer would be proud of."
Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad appreciates Tendulkar's consistency

"When I first bowled to Sachin Tendulkar, I almost felt sorry for this small-built 16-year-old, who looked 14."
Imran Khan, the former Pakistan captain, on the brief while he felt bad for Tendulkar before feeling the same for the bowlers he was batting against

"... shut your eyes, blank out the noise and whisper gently, '50 Test centuries'. Enjoy the way it slips off your tongue and ask yourself if you had ever considered it possible. I hadn't. A decade ago I wrote, 'Would I be considered a madman if I forced the word "fifty" from my lips!'"
Commentator and television presenter Harsha Bhogle savours the moment

"How do you describe such a man? Ninety-six international centuries, fifty of them in Tests all over the world, it's fantastic."
Tendulkar's feats do the impossible: leave Bishan Bedi at a loss for words