New Delhi - India's Sachin Tendulkar on Friday became the world's leading run scorer in Test cricket, surpassing West Indian batting legend Brian Lara's record of 11,953 runs.

The 35-year old master batsman achieved the milestone during the second Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Series between India and Australia in the northern city of Mohali.

Tendulkar scored the record-setting runs for a total 11,955 off bowler Peter Siddle, leading to celebrations amongst the crowds who stood up to applaud his achievement.

Tendulkar then took the helmet off and look upwards in a silent prayer while the Australian players including captain Ricky Ponting shook hands to congratulate him.

While Lara scored 11,953 runs in 131 Tests at an average of 52.89, while the Indian batting great reached this mark in 152 tests at an average of 54.02 runs.

In his 19-year career, the prolific Tendulkar has set several records.

He is the world's top scorer in One-Day Internationals with 16,361 runs and has amassed more than 25,000 international runs by scoring a record 39 centuries in tests and 42 centuries in one-day matches.

He has also scored 49 test half-centuries and 89 one-day international fifties.

Tendulkar made his Test debut in 1989 against Pakistan in Karachi at the age of 16. A cricketing icon, Tendulkar is regarded the world's best batsman cricket has known since Australia's Don Bradman.

Indian President Pratibha Patil congratulated Tendulkar for his achievement.

"You have given joy to countless Indians with your batting," Patil said in a message to the cricketing maestro. (dpa)