Sachin Tendulkar passes 15,000 Test runs for India

Tendulkar raises his bat after reaching the milestone of 15,000 runs (GETTY IMAGES)

India's Sachin Tendulkar added another record to his impressive collection when he became the first batsman to score 15,000 Test runs today in the first test against West Indies.

Playing his 182nd test, the 38-year-old pushed a Devendra Bishoo delivery to extra cover for a single to reach the milestone on day three at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium.

Tendulkar took off his helmet, raised the bat and looked skywards with a silent prayer that has been his characteristic celebration after notching up each of the major batting records dotting his illustrious two-decade career.

Tendulkar was on 33 not out at the close, pushing his test tally to 15,005 runs.

His batting partner Rahul Dravid, next to him in the highest test run-scorers list with 12,859 runs, came to congratulate him, as did the West Indian players.

The sparse crowd joined Tendulkar's team mates in the dressing room to clap and congratulate the batting great.

Most of them will return on Wednesday hoping for a perfect day that could end with Tendulkar's much-awaited 100th international century guiding India to victory, which is still 124 runs away.

Tendulkar has scored 51 centuries in test cricket and 48 in 453 one-day internationals.

Anticipation of Tendulkar's 100th century has provided a buzz of excitement around India's low-profile three-match series against West Indies and the team has celebration plans once he reaches the mark.

"We will let him get the century and then we will speak about it. Hopefully, he gets it in this (first) game and we will speak about it," India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said before the match.

"It's a milestone Sachin will achieve, whether in this game, the next game or some other game. It's bound to happen.

"Once he gets his ton, we all will celebrate with him. It will be a big moment for Indian cricket," Dhoni added.

Reuters