Photo via Hindustan Times

Sachin Tendulkar shares how he’d bring out his carpentry kit to shape his bats just the way he liked

Across a storied 24-season international career, Sachin Tendulkar established unparalleled milestones, compiling 34,357 runs alongside 100 international hundreds. A recent social media post by the iconic batter gave supporters a glimpse into the meticulous craftsmanship behind his success, displaying an image where he handled carpentry tools to sculpt his own willow.

Tendulkar explained that he routinely modified his equipment by hand so each blade matched his exact preferences, emphasizing that tailoring his gear converted each piece into a personal extension of himself.

This exacting standard also explained his lifelong preference for an uncharacteristically heavy bat, a custom that traced back to his youth when his elder brother, Ajit, first inspired him to take up cricket using his own oversized equipment. As detailed in his memoir, Playing It My Way, Tendulkar resisted suggestions to switch to lighter options because his driving mechanics, timing, and shot power relied entirely on that specific balance.