Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has been appointed to the Rajya Sabha, India's upper house of parliament.

The 39-year-old batsman and former national team captain was selected by the president to fill one of 12 special seats reserved for those who have who have excelled in the arts, science or sport.

Tendulkar is not the first athlete to make the foray into politics. A number of players from all sports have taken oaths of office around the globe, from Italian footballers to baseball pitchers to welterweight boxers.

But unlike most of those superstar atheletes cum politicians, Tendulkar will be splitting his time between sports and congress. As expected, the possibility that he will spend 305 days out of the year on the road has upset some Indian politicians while his celebrity and on-field heroics have delighted others.

Regardless, his appointment gives him a head start on what could become a long and fruitful career, one like those of the many athletes who came before him.

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