Ramakant Achrekar, the celebrated cricket coach of Sachin Tendulkar, died on Wednesday.

He was 87 and, according to a family member, had been battling old age-related ailments.

'He (Archrekar Sir) is no more with us. He passed away this evening,' his kin Rashmi Dalvi said over phone.

Achrekar competed in just one first-class match in his playing career but discovered and shaped the biggest batsman in international cricket after Sir Donald Bradman.

Achrekar is best known for being his childhood coach and has always been acknowledged by Sachin for the role he played in shaping his career as a child.

Sachin was coached by Achrekar at Shivaji Park in Mumbai.

'Sir did not say well-played to me ever, (but) I knew (when) sir has taken me to have bhelpuri or paani-puri, sir is happy, I have done something nice on the field,' Sachin had said last year at an event while recalling Achrekar's contribution in making him the cricketer he became.

Achrekar was bestowed the Padmashri in 2010.

He also coached Vinod Kambli, Pravin Amre, Sameer Dighe and Balwinder Singh Sandhu.