Sachin Tendulkar’s life after cricket: business, family and philanthropy

Sachin Tendulkar played his 200th and final Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in November 2013. His farewell speech, thanking his family, coaches and fans, is still one of the most watched moments in Indian sport. What has he done since?

The Bharat Ratna

Hours after his final Test the Government of India announced that Tendulkar would receive the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award. He received it in February 2014, becoming the first sportsperson and the youngest person to be honoured.

Member of Parliament

From 2012 to 2018 Tendulkar was a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, Parliament’s upper house. He spoke on sport and health in schools and adopted villages under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, including Puttamraju Kandriga in Andhra Pradesh.

Business and brands

Tendulkar remains one of India’s most trusted faces for advertisers. Over the years he has endorsed companies in sectors from banking and insurance to paints and vehicles; in 2026 he was named brand ambassador for Techno Paints.

He has invested in sports businesses, including the Kerala Blasters football club, of which he was a co-owner in its early years. His brand SRT10 covers merchandise and training products.

The 2026 family wedding

In March 2026 his son Arjun Tendulkar, a left-arm fast bowler who has played domestic cricket and in the IPL, married entrepreneur Saaniya Chandhok in Mumbai. Tendulkar’s daughter Sara works on the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation.

Tendulkar married Anjali Mehta, a paediatrician, in 1995. He has often credited her with managing family life during his career.

Philanthropy

The Sachin Tendulkar Foundation works in health, education and sport for disadvantaged children. It has supported children’s medical treatment and nutrition programmes and runs sports initiatives in rural areas.

Mentor and ambassador

He mentored Mumbai Indians for several seasons and has been an ICC ambassador. He also travels widely, speaking about fitness and sport, and he keeps a strong presence on social media.

Playing for fun

Tendulkar still plays occasionally in exhibition and legends matches. In 2025 he captained India Masters to victory in the International Masters League.

Recognition abroad

He was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2019 and was made an honorary Member of the Order of Australia in 2012. The new trophy for England–India Test series, introduced in 2025, was named the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy in his honour and that of James Anderson.

Why fans still love him

Tendulkar’s post-retirement life has avoided controversy. He chose roles that fit his reputation — mentor, ambassador, philanthropist — and stayed close to the game without trying to run it. For many Indians he remains a symbol of excellence and humility, more than a decade after his last innings.