India cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar leaves hospital after Covid infection

Sachin Tendulkar is the only batsman to have scored 100 centuries in international cricket

File image: Sachin Tendulkar is widely regarded as one of cricket’s greatest batsman (Getty Images)

Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar was discharged from a hospital on Thursday after undergoing treatment for Covid-19.

“I have just come home from the hospital and will remain isolated while continuing to rest and recuperate. I would like to thank everyone for all the good wishes and prayers. Really appreciate it,” said Mr Tendulkar in a statement on Thursday.

The 47-yeard-old former cricketer had tested positive for Covid-19 on 27 March. He had quarantined himself at home but on 2 April - the anniversary of India’s 2011 cricket World Cup win - he was admitted to hospital “as a matter of abundant precaution”.

Though he is retired from all forms of cricket, he has been taking part in exhibition matches. Recently, he was a part of a cricket tournament in India that was aimed at spreading awareness about road safety. Other than Mr Tendulkar, three other former Indian cricketers who were part of the tournament also tested positive for Covid-19.

On Thursday after returning home, Mr Tendulkar, who is often called the God of cricket and master blaster in India, said: “I remain ever grateful to all the medical staff who took such good care of me and have been working tirelessly for over a year in such difficult circumstances.”

The widely celebrated cricketer was also nominated to India’s parliament for six years in 2012. He was given India’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, after his retirement from international cricket in 2013.

He also holds multiple cricketing records such as most runs by a player in Tests as well as one-day international (ODI) matches. He is also the only cricketer to score 100 international centuries.

Mr Tendulkar lives in Mumbai, in India’s western coastal state of Maharashtra.

India is currently experiencing a second wave of infections and this week recorded over 100,000 daily cases for the first time. Maharashtra alone accounts for nearly half of them as it has been regularly recording more than 50,000 cases over the past few days.

In the last 24 hours, India recorded 131,787 cases of Covid-19 – the highest one-day spike since the start of the pandemic.

Overall, it has so far recorded over 13 million cases of coronavirus and more than 167,000 deaths. It has administered over 94 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.