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On March 18, 2012, Sachin Tendulkar played his final ODI against Pakistan in the Asia Cup. He retired on December 23, 2012, as the leading scorer in ODI history. India won the match by six wickets.
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar shared this image on Instagram before stepping onto the field in the ongoing International Masters League (IML) T20 2025. (Image: sachintendulkar/Instagram)
On This Day In 2012: Exactly 13 years ago, all-time cricketing great Sachin Tendulkar competed in his final ODI game against Pakistan. He unknowingly played his last match in the fifty-over format against India’s arch-rivals in the 2012 Asia Cup in Bangladesh. The fixture was hosted at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on March 18.
Tendulkar officially announced his retirement months later, on December 23. The Master Blaster departed from the fifty-over format as the leading scorer in history. His retirement from limited-overs cricket marked the end of an era in Indian cricket. Arguably, the greatest-ever to play the sport, Tendulkar’s departure triggered a wave of nostalgia and reflection.
The 2012 Asia Cup will be remembered fondly despite India’s failure to make the tournament’s finals. It was the same event where Sachin Tendulkar created history by notching his 100th international century against Bangladesh in the group stage. Little did fans know that the Master Blaster would compete in his final ODI game days later.
Sachin Tendulkar’s final ODI match in Dhaka was a poignant reminder of his decades-long brilliance. While he couldn’t add another century to the record books, the legendary batter showcased his class and scored a fifty.
On this day, the match began with Pakistan winning the toss and electing to bat first. They looked unstoppable as both Mohmmad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed scored centuries.
A brilliant start saw Pakistan add 224 runs to the scoreboard without losing a single wicket. Younis Khan scored another quick-fire 34-ball 52 to help his side finish the innings at 329/6.
India’s chase endured a complicated start, as Gautam Gambhir was dismissed for a duck in the second ball of regulation.
Sachin Tendulkar stepped up at the crucial hour, forming a formidable partnership with Virat Kohli. The duo remained unbeaten for 133 runs as the Master Blaster smashed a half-century. Tendulkar hit five fours and one six before losing his wicket to Saeed Ajmal.
Virat Kohli continued to build on India’s good momentum, forming another partnership with Rohit Sharma. He scored 183 runs, racking up 22 boundaries and one six, while Rohit added 68 more. The partnerships paid dividends for India as they completed a successful chase with 2.1 overs remaining.
Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni helped the Men in Blue go past the finish line, winning the match by six wickets.
Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement prompted a global celebration of his unparalleled contribution to cricket. He left behind an unmatched legacy that transcended the boundaries of the sport.
The master blaster recently took to the field once again for the International Masters League.
