The Khel Ratna Award in 1997

The second award in some of the achievements of Sachin Tendulkar is the Khel Ratna award in 1997. The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awards are India's highest honors and are given to people who represent the country well internationally. It is named after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who ruled from 1984 to 1989. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports gives it out once a year.

Sachin Tendulkar was the first cricketer to get the coveted Khel Ratna Award, and the seventh sports person overall. Even though he eventually went on to receive the Bharat Ratna, this honor will always have a special place in his heart. Sachin played in 180 international matches until the end of 1996. He was also at his best between 1996 and 1999, breaking a number of records.

The Master Blaster scored 7,929 international runs at an average of 44 through the end of 1996. His highest score was 179 at the time, and he had 20 international hundreds—ten each in Test and One-Day International cricket. In addition, he took 47 wickets with the ball.