Born in Antigua on March 7, 1952, Richards made his Test debut for the West Indies against India in November 1974 and immediately made an impact by scoring an unbeaten 192 in the second Test of the series in New Delhi.
Tendulkar took to social media platform X, captioning the post: “The way he dominated bowling attacks across the world was an inspiration for me while I was growing up. Happy birthday to one of my idols! @ivivianrichards.”
Richards, who led West Indies in 50 matches between 1984 and 1991, achieved the unique distinction of being the only West Indies captain to emerge victorious in every Test series under his leadership.
From 1974 to 1991, Richards showcased his prowess for the West Indies in 121 Test matches, accumulating an impressive total of 8,540 runs at an average of 50.23. His remarkable innings included 24 centuries and 45 fifties in 182 innings, with a highest score of 291.
Richards stands as the third-highest run-scorer in Test matches for the West Indies, leaving an indelible mark on the team’s cricketing legacy.
In 187 ODIs, he scored 6,721 runs at an average of 47.00, with 11 centuries and 45 fifties in 167 innings. His best score was 189* and his strike rate was 90.20.