Sachin Tendulkar in the context of "Batter (cricket)"

In cricket, batting is the act or skill of hitting the ball with a bat to score runs and prevent the loss of one's wicket. Any player who is currently batting is, since September 2021, officially referred to as a batter regardless of whether batting is their particular area of expertise. Historically, batsman and batswoman were used, and these terms remain in widespread use. Batters have to adapt to various conditions when playing on different cricket pitches, especially in different countries; therefore, as well as having outstanding physical batting skills, top-level batters will have quick reflexes, excellent decision-making skills, and be good strategists.

During an innings two members of the batting side are on the pitch at any time: the one facing the current delivery from the bowler is called the striker, while the other is the non-striker. When a batter is out, they are replaced by a teammate. This continues until the end of the innings, which in most cases is when 10 of the team members are out, whereupon the other team gets a turn to bat.

The Bharat Ratna (Hindi pronunciation: [bʱaːɾət̪ ɾət̪n̪(ᵊ)]; lit. 'Jewel of India') is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conferred in recognition of "exceptional service/performance of the highest order", without distinction of race, occupation, position or gender. The award was originally limited to achievements in the arts, literature, science, and public services, but the Government of India expanded the criteria to include "any field of human endeavor" in December 2011. The recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the president and a peepal leaf-shaped medallion. Bharat Ratna recipients rank seventh in the Indian order of precedence.

The first recipients of the Bharat Ratna were: the former governor-general of the Union of India C. Rajagopalachari, the former president of the Republic of India Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan; and the Indian physicist C. V. Raman, who were honoured in 1954. Since then, the award has been bestowed upon 53 individuals, including 18 who were awarded posthumously. The original statutes did not provide for posthumous awards but were amended in January 1966 to permit them to honor former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, the first individual to be honored posthumously. In 2014, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, then aged 40, became the youngest recipient, while social reformer Dhondo Keshav Karve was the oldest recipient when he was awarded on his 100th birthday. Though usually conferred on India-born citizens, the award has been conferred on one naturalized citizen, Mother Teresa, and on two non-Indians: Abdul Ghaffar Khan (born in British India and later a citizen of Pakistan) and Nelson Mandela, a citizen of South Africa.

A partnership in cricket refers to the collaboration between two batters and the runs they accumulate together, including extras. While both batters are involved in a partnership, only one is the striker at any given time. A partnership between two batters ends when one of them is dismissed, retires, or when the innings concludes. An innings may end due to a victory being achieved, a declaration, the expiration of a time or over limit, or the abandonment of the match. In exceptional circumstances, if one of the original batters is injured, a substitute runner may complete runs on their behalf. However, any runs scored will still be recorded as part of the partnership between the two original batters. The term partnership may also refer to two bowlers delivering alternate overs from opposite ends of the wicket.