NEW DELHI: Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar said he will retire from international cricket after playing his 200th test match next month.

The 40-year-old Tendulkar is the most prolific batsman in international cricket history with 15,837 runs in 198 tests and 18,426 runs in 463 one-day internationals.

He also holds the record for most centuries in tests (51) and ODIs (49).

He made his test debut for India in 1989 at the age of 16.

Tendulkar, who has already retired from limited over internationals, made the announcement in a statement.

“All my life, I have had a dream of playing cricket for India,” Tendulkar said.

“I have been living this dream every day for the last 24 years. It’s hard for me to imagine a life without playing cricket because it’s all I have ever done since I was 11 years old.”

“It’s been a huge honor to have represented my country and played all over the world. I look forward to playing my 200th test match on home soil, as I call it a day,” Tendulkar added.

Tendulkar is ranked alongside Viv Richards and not far behind Australian legend Don Bradman in the list of the world’s greatest batsmen and he is revered in India as a popular hero.

His last test will be against the West Indies at a yet to be determined venue in India from Nov. 14-18.