India's shining jewel, master batsman Sachin Tendulkar [Images], turned 36 today (Friday, April 24).

The Little Master, who is leading the Mumbai Indians [Images] in the Indian Premier League [Images], celebrated his birthday with his IPL team mates in South Africa [Images].

Since making his Test debut against Pakistan in 1989, Tendulkar has played 159 Tests scoring 12,773 runs at an impressive average of 54.58 runs per over.

His first Test century, which saved the match for India at Old Trafford in England [Images], came when he was 17. He had 16 Test hundreds before he turned 25.

In ODIs, Sachin has so far scored as many as 43 centuries and 91 half-centuries, scoring 16,684 runs in the 425 matches that he has played.

Sachin currently holds the record for most hundreds in both Tests and ODIs.

Join us in wishing the batting maestro good luck on his birthday.