Tendulkar believes his retirement from ODIs will help India during their ICC World Cup campaign in 2015

Iconic India batsman Sachin Tendulkar has announced his retirement from ODI cricket in order to focus on his struggling Test career.

Tendulkar represented India in 463 ODIs, scoring 18,426 runs, which included 49 centuries, all of which are records.

Tendulkar played his last ODI against Pakistan during the Asia Cup, where he scored a half-century in India’s triumph over their arch-rivals.

“I have decided to retire from the One Day format of the game,” he said in a statement. “I feel blessed to have fulfilled the dream of being part of a World Cup winning Indian team. The preparatory process to defend the World Cup in 2015 should begin early and in right earnest. I would like to wish the team all the very best for the future. I am eternally grateful to all my well wishers for their unconditional support and love over the years.”

The ‘Little Master’ also made his ODI debut against Pakistan in Gujranwala in 1989, where he was dismissed for a duck.

However, Tendulkar scored his first half century in his ninth ODI and made his maiden century in his 79th ODI.

He was also the first man to score a double century in an ODI, a feat which has only been accomplished by long-time team-mate Virender Sehwag in 2011 against the West Indies.

Tendulkar’s decision to retire was announced after he had spoken to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Narayanaswami Srinivasan.

“It was not sudden,” BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale added. “He informed us before the selection about his decision.

“He spoke to me and the president about his decision. Naturally he must have been (emotional) I can’t say we just spoke on the phone.”

BCCI chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty noted that Tendulkar had decided to retire since he wanted to give another youngster a chance to make his mark ahead of the 2015 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup, which is set be hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

“What he has expressed is his concern that India has to prepare for the next World Cup,” Shetty said. “From that point of view, he felt that it was time that he retired.”