On the other hand, the 40-year-old icon, who called time on his glittering international career today, was chosen for the top award soon after his farewell Test against the West Indies ended in Mumbai.
A brief statement issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson Venu Rajamony said the President has awarded the Bharat Ratna to Tendulkar, who retired from the International cricket today.
Tendulkar bows out as the most successful batsman in international cricket with 15,921 runs in 200 Tests.
In his ODI career, which he needed last year, Tendulkar amassed 18,426 runs in 463 matches.
