The world was at his feet when Sachin Tendulkar scored his world-record breaking 35th century.

The master has silenced his critics, made his fans delirious, created history and earned his rightful place in the record books.

The world loves him as an aggressive conqueror and that is why he is nation's darling.

Sachin's body has already taken more blows than a man does in a lifetime but when he finally achieved the feat at Kotla (same venue where Gavaskar scored his 29th century to equal Sir Donald Bradman's record for most hundreds), he had tears in his eyes.

He may not be batting like a Brian Lara today, but that does not deny him a place in the history of world cricket as one of the very best ever.