On this day in 2004: Sachin Tendulkar equals Gavaskar’s 34 Test centuries
Former Indian cricketer and batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar is widely regarded as the greatest-ever batter to have played the game. The diminutive cricketer rewrote history books in an international career that spanned more than two decades. However, the date December 11 is not only of great significance for the Indian great but also for the entire nation as it was on this day in 2004 Sachin equalled Sunil Gavaskar’s tally of 34 centuries in Tests for India.
Sachin reached the milestone in India’s first Test match of the series against hosts Bangladesh in 2004. The visitors led by the influential Sourav Ganguly won the toss and elected to bowl first in the series opener. The home side got off to an unceremonious start as the left-arm fast-bowling duo of Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan wreaked havoc with the new ball.
India take driver’s seat
Pathan, in particular, looked in imperious touch, scalping a five-for in the first innings reducing the hosts to a paltry 184 runs. India, in reply, did not start well either, losing the top three wickets cheaply. However, the great man stood tall for the Indians, relatively untroubled at the crease. He found an able supporter in his skipper and long-time opening partner Sourav Ganguly as the duo took India to safety.
Even though Ganguly departed after registering his half-century, Sachin continued on his merry way, bringing up a record-equalling 34th ton in a Test for India. But it was only the start of a remarkable innings from the classy batter as he went on to compile a glittering double ton in the innings and remained unbeaten on the score of 248. His masterful inning propelled the visitors to a mammoth 526 in their first innings.
Bangladesh, in their reply, found no joy in the second either as Irfan Pathan returned with sensational bowling figures of 6/51, grabbing 11 wickets in the match to hand India a routine victory by an innings and 140 runs. Sachin went on to register 17 more tons in the longest format of the game, becoming the cricketer with the most tons in the history of the game.
