When two titans of Indian women’s cricket pause to honour a man who defined a cricketing era, the tributes transcend mere birthday wishes. On Sachin Tendulkar’s 52nd birthday, former captain Mithali Raj lauded the “God of Cricket” as “a story of dedication, grace, and timeless inspiration,” while pace legend Jhulan Goswami celebrated him as the rare legend who “carried the weight of a billion hopes with grace”, both via heartfelt posts on X (formerly Twitter).
Mithali Raj’s tribute to Sachin’s “dedication and grace” and Jhulan Goswami’s nod to his “era-defining legacy” reveal a rare cross-generational dialogue. Much like how Tendulkar transformed batting into poetry, Mithali’s 22-year career (1999-2022) redefined women’s cricket diplomacy, while Jhulan’s fiery spells (2002-2022) embodied relentless precision. Their words aren’t mere birthday wishes but a baton-passing ritual. Tendulkar inspired them to dream bigger, and they now inspire millions to see cricket as genderless excellence.
Mithali Raj is still at the top of the list for the most runs scored in the women’s game, with 10,868 runs across formats (699 runs: – Tests; 7,805 runs: – ODIs; and 2,364 runs: – T20Is). She became the face of Women’s Cricket’s Identity crisis to Respectability arc. Sachin Tendulkar carried men’s cricket’s financial rise (1989-2013) with 100 international tons.
Former pace-bowling legend Jhulan Goswami, with 355 wickets (255 in ODIs, 44 in Tests, and 56 in T20Is), turned fast bowling into a feminist statement in a spin-dominated ecosystem. She also recently had a stand named after her at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata as a tribute to her legacy and the kind of impact she has created in the Indian women’s cricket courtesy of her inspiring journey.
Their stats are mile markers, but their true impact lies in how they achieved them. Sachin’s straight drives under pressure, Mithali’s cover drives amid pay disparity, Jhulan’s bouncers against “women can’t bowl fast” stereotypes. Tendulkar’s career taught fans to feel cricket, Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami made us see and realise those feelings weren’t male owned.
Sachin’s 98 (75 balls) Vs Pakistan (2003 WC), which not only got India over the line but also earned him the Player of the Match and Mithali’s iconic 214 (407 balls) Vs England (2002) played a crucial role in helping India draw that game.
It was the record for the highest individual score in the red-ball format in the women’s game at that point of time. Both of these achievements inspired belief and showed them that India could not just compete but also win games of cricket against some of the best sides in the game during that period across the two generations.
Sachin Tendulkar’s birthday isn’t about 52 candles but 52 million ways he, and our women counterparts, taught us to fall in love with cricket’s essence, the beautiful struggle of human potential Vs impossible fan expectations.
These messages, from pioneers who reshaped women’s cricket against societal and systemic odds, reveal more than fandom; they map how Tendulkar’s legacy became a blueprint for excellence, resilience, and dignity, values Mithali and Jhulan championed to forge their own revolutionary paths.
As cricket’s new generation takes centre stage, these cross-generational salutes remind us why icons like Sachin aren’t just remembered; their legacy becomes the oxygen for the future legends to breathe.
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