The Winning Way: Five special knocks of Sachin Tendulkar in winning causes
In a decorated career that spanned 24 glorious years, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar plundered 34357 runs in international cricket. He also amassed a mind-numbing 100 international centuries. Apart from that, Tendulkar is also the highest run-scorer in Test (15921) and ODI (18426) cricket. And, these are numbers that might never ever be surpassed.
On the occasion of Tendulkar’s birthday, we take a look at the five most special knocks from Tendulkar’s willow in a winning cause.
5.214 vs Australia – Bangalore
We will travel more than a decade back to the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore to relive this knock from the willow of the master. In October 2010, India and Australia locked horns in the 2nd Test match at Bangalore. The Aussies batted first and were bowled out for 478. In reply, it was Tendulkar’s resplendent knock that lit up the Chinnaswamy stadium.
Sachin scored a flawless 214 off 363 deliveries to allow India to post a total of 495 on the board. Apart from Tendulkar, Murali Vijay also scored 139. In the second innings, the Aussies were bowled out for just 223, and that meant that India had to chase 207 for victory. And the hosts did it with ease, with 7 wickets to spare.
4.155 vs Australia – Chennai
This classic was played out at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai in the year 1998. Batting first, the Indian team posted a total of 257 on the board. In reply, Australia helped their way to 328. India started their second innings on the back foot, trailing by 71 runs. But then, Tendulkar came to their rescue in the second innings.
In an assault that Shane Warne might never forget, Tendulkar blasted the Australian bowlers (giving Warne some special treatment) and scored a murderous 155* off 191 deliveries to swing the match in favour of India. Helped by Tendulkar’s scintillating hundred, India set Australia a target of 348. Faced with a daunting target and a menacing spin bowling attack, the visitors wilted under pressure and were bowled out for just 168.
3.134 vs Australia – Sharjah
This was another masterclass that Sachin Tendulkar played in the year 1998. The venue was Sharjah and the opposition once again, was Australia. The format was different, as Tendulkar dished out this mauling in coloured clothing and not in the whites.
In the final of the Coca Cola Cup, Australia batted first and posted a challenging total of 272. In reply, Tendulkar took centerstage for India. Carrying the hopes of the nation on his back, the master scored a rampaging 134 to pulverise the Australian bowling attack. Tendulkar innings was embellished with 12 fours and 3 sixes, as he guided India to a 6-wicket victory.
2.103* vs England – Chennai
This knock makes the list because of two main reasons. The first is the situation that the Indian team found themselves in, and second is the situation that the entire nation found itself in. This Test match took place in December 2008, just 2 weeks after the 26/11 terror attacks and the nation was in shock.
India were set an improbable target of 387 in the second innings against England on a Chennai pitch that had started to pose some tough questions to the batsmen. Tendulkar came out with the scorecard reading 141/2. And, he played a classic that will be etched in the minds of the multitude of fans who witnessed this first hand. The master scored 103* off 196 deliveries to help India chase down a daunting target and dedicated his knock to those who lost their lives in the tragic incident.
1.200* vs South Africa – Gwalior
For almost four decades, no batsman had breached the 200 run-mark in ODI cricket. But on 24th February 2010, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar showed how it is done.
In Gwalior, the master batsman tore apart the South African bowling attack with resplendence. In his 147-ball stay out in the middle, Tendulkar plundered 200*, a feat that will be remembered as a seminal moment in the history of ODI cricket. India ended their innings with a total of 401/3 on the board, and the biggest shining light was Tendulkar. In reply, the South African side was shot out for just 248.
