Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Viv Richards on Sachins Achivements
Sachin Tendulkar's career longevity and his remarkable achievements make him a class apart, according to the legendary Sir Vivian Richards who reckons that the Indian maestro has set benchmarks that no other contemporary cricketer can come anywhere close to.
Richards said Tendulkar has survived for so long in international cricket because of his "amazing dedication" and it was only a matter of time when he scripts history by becoming the first cricketer to score 50 Test centuries.
"He can certainly achieve that (scoring 50 Test centuries). I think the way the games are going at present, it would be very difficult for anyone to break that record. He is way ahead of others," Richards said.
Richards, one of the most destructive batsman of his era, said only Australian captain Ricky Ponting had a slim chance of coming anywhere near Tendulkar's records among contemporary cricketers.
"I can't see any individual, the closest guy who would come to that may be Ricky (Ponting). But the way things are going on in Australia, they are calling for his head, so I don't know really know how long he will be around. He is the only individual I think who could be close to Sachin's record. But I think it would be hard to surpass," he said.
The West Indian batting great attributed Tendulkar's longevity to the way he has conducted himself right through his career and his discipline among other things.
"Tendulkar is 37, still going great. It's all about how you have conducted yourself. I guess there were times when it looked pretty doubtful with injuries, starting with the back, would have most certainly affected his career but it's due to persistence, dedication, discipline and confidence that you survive for so long," he explained.
Richards spoke on a variety of subjects ranging from India's prospects in the upcoming World Cup, best captains in the modern era and the reasons for the sharp decline of West Indies cricket during the interview.
The former captain had rated Virender Sehwag as the most destructive batsman in modern era but did he see any similarity in the Indian swashbuckler and his own batting?
"I think he has his own way of playing. Any comparison that could be is that he has no fear. I had no fear about fast bowlers. He trusts his instincts and I admire him 100 per cent for that attitude. He is a stylish player and has got the trust in himself which is very much required," he said.
Richards said Tendulkar has survived for so long in international cricket because of his "amazing dedication" and it was only a matter of time when he scripts history by becoming the first cricketer to score 50 Test centuries.
"He can certainly achieve that (scoring 50 Test centuries). I think the way the games are going at present, it would be very difficult for anyone to break that record. He is way ahead of others," Richards said.
Richards, one of the most destructive batsman of his era, said only Australian captain Ricky Ponting had a slim chance of coming anywhere near Tendulkar's records among contemporary cricketers.
"I can't see any individual, the closest guy who would come to that may be Ricky (Ponting). But the way things are going on in Australia, they are calling for his head, so I don't know really know how long he will be around. He is the only individual I think who could be close to Sachin's record. But I think it would be hard to surpass," he said.
The West Indian batting great attributed Tendulkar's longevity to the way he has conducted himself right through his career and his discipline among other things.
"Tendulkar is 37, still going great. It's all about how you have conducted yourself. I guess there were times when it looked pretty doubtful with injuries, starting with the back, would have most certainly affected his career but it's due to persistence, dedication, discipline and confidence that you survive for so long," he explained.
Richards spoke on a variety of subjects ranging from India's prospects in the upcoming World Cup, best captains in the modern era and the reasons for the sharp decline of West Indies cricket during the interview.
The former captain had rated Virender Sehwag as the most destructive batsman in modern era but did he see any similarity in the Indian swashbuckler and his own batting?
"I think he has his own way of playing. Any comparison that could be is that he has no fear. I had no fear about fast bowlers. He trusts his instincts and I admire him 100 per cent for that attitude. He is a stylish player and has got the trust in himself which is very much required," he said.
Sachin After His 50 th Test Hundred
Sachin Tendulkar has always stressed that he never plays for records and it was no different when the media asked him to describe his feelings after completing the historic milestone of 50 Test centuries.
"I never think about records. I love to focus on preparation and trying to give more than 100 percent on the field. I love to play. Try and keep improving. If I would have been chasing records, I would not have opted out of few ODIs. I believe in producing quality cricket whenever I step on the cricket field.
About this particular knock, Sachin said,"Scoring in situation like this gives one immense pleasure. All of us know that how the wicket behaved on the first day of the match. I don't want to give any excuse but wicket was different only on the 1st day.
However, the legend feels that his knock of 136 vs Pakistan in Chennai (1999) was the most difficult knock of his career.
"I think my knock of 136 against Pakistan at Chennai was toughest. Wicket was really deteriorating and quality of bowling attack was outstanding."
Sachin also attributed his good show to the bat he has been using for almost one year.
"God has been kind to me. Yes, this bat has given amazing service to me. Normally, a bat doesn't last that long. You may get one bad awkward ball which keeps low and bat gets broken in the toe.
"I have been lucky as far as this bat is concerned. I know that this bat is not in best of condition as I am using it for so long. I have few bats absolutely ready for match. But the moment, I pick up this bat, I feel that no one can get me out," Sachin said with broad smile on his face.
For the record, Sachin has scored 12 hundreds with this bat including first ever ODI double century.
About the state of the match, Sachin said, "I won't rule out possibility of us saving this Test match."
Mahendra singh Dhoni about Sachin Tendulkar
Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that he doesn't like any comparisons between batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar and the legendary Don Bradman.
"I do not like comparisons between Sachin and Don as they played in different eras," Dhoni was quoted as saying by the Beeld Thursday.
There is no doubt that both are brilliant batsmen and...but Sachin has been around for two decades...the best in the world and had moreover throughout his career could adapt even with the demands of one-day cricket and more recently the Twenty20 version," he said.
Dhoni said Sachin's presence brings out the best in the team.
"He is the kind of guy who get the best out of with whoever he bats," said Dhoni.
"I was on the other side when he struck that 200 not out against South Africa in Gwalior," Dhoni said
"I do not like comparisons between Sachin and Don as they played in different eras," Dhoni was quoted as saying by the Beeld Thursday.
There is no doubt that both are brilliant batsmen and...but Sachin has been around for two decades...the best in the world and had moreover throughout his career could adapt even with the demands of one-day cricket and more recently the Twenty20 version," he said.
Dhoni said Sachin's presence brings out the best in the team.
"He is the kind of guy who get the best out of with whoever he bats," said Dhoni.
"I was on the other side when he struck that 200 not out against South Africa in Gwalior," Dhoni said
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
India Vs Australia, Second test, Bangalore
Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaloru
The stadium was given test status in 1974-75, India vs West Indies. That match was also the debut of two west indian greats, Vivian Richards and Gordon Greenidge.
Going in to this match fans are waiting for
Sachin to score 27 to reach 14000,
Sachin to score 45 to be the highest run getter in Bangalore,
Last 9 test Sachin has scored more than 50 everytime, two more test matches to take him on par with Vivian Richards
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first.
They put 478 on the board with the help of M North, Ricky Ponting and Shane watson.
India opened with Shewag and Murali Vijay in absence of Gautam Ghambir, started well but Shewag and Dravid fell in quick succession, then came Sachin Tendulkar. Then what happened is as if script was written by Sachin himself. He looked so confident and was never in trouble. He treated Hauritz with ease and the scoreboard kept ticking. Sachin got good company from Murali Vijay. Then the moment of the match came, when master was on 27 he reached the 14000 mark which no one ever attained, another feather on his cap. Its a privilage to watch him bat like this. I wonder weather he is 37 or 21. His hunger for runs always amazed me and continues to do so.
End of days play India were 128/2, Sachin on 44 and Murali 42
He reached 50 by hitting 2 fours, doing so he made in to another club of record of scoring 50 or more 10 consecutive test matches. He went on and on to make his 49th test hundred with two sixes. 5th times he scored a hundred by hitting a six. This innings started as if he is ready for a big one.
He also reached another record by scoring 6 hundreds this year. He became the only indian to do so.
When he reached 107 he completed 3000 runs against Aussie, 2nd highest to Jack Hobbs
When he reached 150 he went past Lara's record for most number of 150's in test cricket, another world record(20 times). Couple of wickets fell quickly before the days play. Sachin was on 191* when play stopped on 3rd day.
As expected he reached his 6th double hundred and 2nd against the Aussie very quickly. By doing so he joined Shewag for most number of double hundreds by an Indian. Sachin fell to the debutant George, When he was on 214. What an Innings!!!
After Sachin's wicket another four wickets fell for just 9 runs!, as always.
India All out for 495
Australia started their second innings confidently. Watson and Katich were middling the balls until spinner came in to the attack. Ojha was the pick of the bowlers. Three wickets fell in quick succession Watson, Katich and Clark. Ponting and Hussey steady the innings with a half centuary partnership. Then again Indian bowler came back strongly with tqo quick wickets. After Ponting went for 72 rest was just a formality. Australia finished their innings for 223.
Australia need a good start to win this match, they got Shewag out cheaply. But Murali Vijay and Pujara steady the Indian innings with a quick fire 72 run stand. After Murali Vijay went Sachin joined Pujara for another crucial stand. Sachin played another gem of an innings. It was important that he stays there till the end. And he has done exactly that. After Pujara departed Sachin and Dravid stayed till the end.
India 207/3 (45 Overs)
India opened with Shewag and Murali Vijay in absence of Gautam Ghambir, started well but Shewag and Dravid fell in quick succession, then came Sachin Tendulkar. Then what happened is as if script was written by Sachin himself. He looked so confident and was never in trouble. He treated Hauritz with ease and the scoreboard kept ticking. Sachin got good company from Murali Vijay. Then the moment of the match came, when master was on 27 he reached the 14000 mark which no one ever attained, another feather on his cap. Its a privilage to watch him bat like this. I wonder weather he is 37 or 21. His hunger for runs always amazed me and continues to do so.
End of days play India were 128/2, Sachin on 44 and Murali 42
He reached 50 by hitting 2 fours, doing so he made in to another club of record of scoring 50 or more 10 consecutive test matches. He went on and on to make his 49th test hundred with two sixes. 5th times he scored a hundred by hitting a six. This innings started as if he is ready for a big one.
He also reached another record by scoring 6 hundreds this year. He became the only indian to do so.
When he reached 107 he completed 3000 runs against Aussie, 2nd highest to Jack Hobbs
When he reached 150 he went past Lara's record for most number of 150's in test cricket, another world record(20 times). Couple of wickets fell quickly before the days play. Sachin was on 191* when play stopped on 3rd day.
As expected he reached his 6th double hundred and 2nd against the Aussie very quickly. By doing so he joined Shewag for most number of double hundreds by an Indian. Sachin fell to the debutant George, When he was on 214. What an Innings!!!
After Sachin's wicket another four wickets fell for just 9 runs!, as always.
India All out for 495
Australia started their second innings confidently. Watson and Katich were middling the balls until spinner came in to the attack. Ojha was the pick of the bowlers. Three wickets fell in quick succession Watson, Katich and Clark. Ponting and Hussey steady the innings with a half centuary partnership. Then again Indian bowler came back strongly with tqo quick wickets. After Ponting went for 72 rest was just a formality. Australia finished their innings for 223.
Australia need a good start to win this match, they got Shewag out cheaply. But Murali Vijay and Pujara steady the Indian innings with a quick fire 72 run stand. After Murali Vijay went Sachin joined Pujara for another crucial stand. Sachin played another gem of an innings. It was important that he stays there till the end. And he has done exactly that. After Pujara departed Sachin and Dravid stayed till the end.
India 207/3 (45 Overs)
Sachin Tendulker Won the Man of the Match and Man of the Series award
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Rahul Dravid about Sachin Tendulker
'Adaptability is his greatest talent no other batsman in world cricket can do it quite like him'' - Dravid
I first saw Sachin Tendulkar when I was 14, in an U-15 game between West Zone and South Zone at Cuttack in 1986. I was a substitute; Sachin was playing, and got 60-odd. I saw him again the next year in an U-17 game at Nagpur. A number of things struck me about Sachin: that he was obviously a special talent, that he used a very heavy bat for one so young, and also that his bat was a fine imported Slazenger, the envy of many of us! Within a couple of years, he was playing for India, and taking on Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis in Pakistan.
In the early nineties satellite television had just come in, and we all watched Sachin's progress with a great deal of interest and took inspiration from him. Here you were, struggling to score runs in a Ranji Trophy game, and there he was, taking on the best attacks in the world, a teenager with the maturity and understanding of a veteran.
I believe his success was also beneficial to us in another way. After him a lot more young cricketers started getting fast-tracked into Ranji sides. Previously you would have to wait till you were 19 or 20 at least before you were considered. I got into my state side at 17; Sourav Ganguly did so at much the same age; Vinod Kambli got an early opportunity to play Test cricket ... more opportunities were available to young players than before.
Sachin has been a great influence on my career. I made my debut for India in 1996 and after a while settled into the No. 3 slot in both forms of the game, and since he opened in one-day cricket and batted at four in Tests, we've spent a lot of time batting together, during which I've always regarded myself fortunate to have the best seat in the house.
In Test cricket, three and four are key positions in the batting order, and it is important that the two men there have games that complement each other. Just his entry would create a stir in the opposition, who would then focus almost entirely on getting him out. This allowed me to go about quietly doing my job at the other end.
Like most other great batsmen, Sachin possesses the ability to control where the bowlers bowl to him: sometimes by taking chances and going on the attack against them, like he did against Shane Warne at Chennai in 1998, or even with a more defensive strategy, like leaving balls outside off stump alone and forcing bowlers to bowl straighter at him.
Sachin's greatest attribute is his ability to adapt to different situations. It doesn't matter if the wicket is low and slow, or fast and bouncy - he just works out what shots he has to play and goes about it. I remember how once in the West Indies in 1997 we played a one-dayer at Trinidad in which we had to bat first against Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Ian Bishop and Franklyn Rose on a pitch on which the ball was doing all sorts of things. Sachin sized up the situation quickly and unleashed a flurry of strokes to disconcert the bowlers. He was out for 44, by which time he had already hit 10 fours.The hallmark of a great player is how you perform in different situations, and also how you perform when you're not playing at your best - like Sachin's double-hundred in Australia when he was going through a lean trot. He just decided to eschew certain shots and piled up a big score. That is why I have little patience with those who say that Sachin these days doesn't often bat with the dash and flair of old. I've never seen any batsman play in one way right through his career - your responsibilities change, your body changes, the way you think changes.
Finally the most important measure of an innings is its value to the side. Many of Sachin's knocks, like that double-hundred at Sydney, even if more restrained and not as pleasing to spectators as some of the blazing innings of old, have been contributions as crucial and significant as any he has made before.
In fact, it is interesting to watch the way Sachin still scores at a very high rate in the one-day game, but in a slightly different way from before - without hitting over the top as much as he used to - because he has learned how to work the ball around at will: he achieves the same results with a different method. In particular, the emergence of Virender Sehwag as his opening partner in the one-day game has led to Sachin adjusting his game slightly. I think he sees a young Tendulkar in Sehwag, and wants him to have the license to play freely; besides, he knows that you don't have to go bang-bang at both ends to keep the scoreboard rattling along.
Even now, his technique and in particular his balance are impeccable. That flick he plays behind square leg to the fast bowlers, often taking the ball right off his stumps, is all about perfection of balance. No other batsman in world cricket can do it quite like him.
I first saw Sachin Tendulkar when I was 14, in an U-15 game between West Zone and South Zone at Cuttack in 1986. I was a substitute; Sachin was playing, and got 60-odd. I saw him again the next year in an U-17 game at Nagpur. A number of things struck me about Sachin: that he was obviously a special talent, that he used a very heavy bat for one so young, and also that his bat was a fine imported Slazenger, the envy of many of us! Within a couple of years, he was playing for India, and taking on Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis in Pakistan.
In the early nineties satellite television had just come in, and we all watched Sachin's progress with a great deal of interest and took inspiration from him. Here you were, struggling to score runs in a Ranji Trophy game, and there he was, taking on the best attacks in the world, a teenager with the maturity and understanding of a veteran.
I believe his success was also beneficial to us in another way. After him a lot more young cricketers started getting fast-tracked into Ranji sides. Previously you would have to wait till you were 19 or 20 at least before you were considered. I got into my state side at 17; Sourav Ganguly did so at much the same age; Vinod Kambli got an early opportunity to play Test cricket ... more opportunities were available to young players than before.
Sachin has been a great influence on my career. I made my debut for India in 1996 and after a while settled into the No. 3 slot in both forms of the game, and since he opened in one-day cricket and batted at four in Tests, we've spent a lot of time batting together, during which I've always regarded myself fortunate to have the best seat in the house.
In Test cricket, three and four are key positions in the batting order, and it is important that the two men there have games that complement each other. Just his entry would create a stir in the opposition, who would then focus almost entirely on getting him out. This allowed me to go about quietly doing my job at the other end.
Like most other great batsmen, Sachin possesses the ability to control where the bowlers bowl to him: sometimes by taking chances and going on the attack against them, like he did against Shane Warne at Chennai in 1998, or even with a more defensive strategy, like leaving balls outside off stump alone and forcing bowlers to bowl straighter at him.
Sachin's greatest attribute is his ability to adapt to different situations. It doesn't matter if the wicket is low and slow, or fast and bouncy - he just works out what shots he has to play and goes about it. I remember how once in the West Indies in 1997 we played a one-dayer at Trinidad in which we had to bat first against Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Ian Bishop and Franklyn Rose on a pitch on which the ball was doing all sorts of things. Sachin sized up the situation quickly and unleashed a flurry of strokes to disconcert the bowlers. He was out for 44, by which time he had already hit 10 fours.The hallmark of a great player is how you perform in different situations, and also how you perform when you're not playing at your best - like Sachin's double-hundred in Australia when he was going through a lean trot. He just decided to eschew certain shots and piled up a big score. That is why I have little patience with those who say that Sachin these days doesn't often bat with the dash and flair of old. I've never seen any batsman play in one way right through his career - your responsibilities change, your body changes, the way you think changes.
Finally the most important measure of an innings is its value to the side. Many of Sachin's knocks, like that double-hundred at Sydney, even if more restrained and not as pleasing to spectators as some of the blazing innings of old, have been contributions as crucial and significant as any he has made before.
In fact, it is interesting to watch the way Sachin still scores at a very high rate in the one-day game, but in a slightly different way from before - without hitting over the top as much as he used to - because he has learned how to work the ball around at will: he achieves the same results with a different method. In particular, the emergence of Virender Sehwag as his opening partner in the one-day game has led to Sachin adjusting his game slightly. I think he sees a young Tendulkar in Sehwag, and wants him to have the license to play freely; besides, he knows that you don't have to go bang-bang at both ends to keep the scoreboard rattling along.
Even now, his technique and in particular his balance are impeccable. That flick he plays behind square leg to the fast bowlers, often taking the ball right off his stumps, is all about perfection of balance. No other batsman in world cricket can do it quite like him.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Individual Honours
- Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award, 2008.
- ICC World ODI XI: 2004, 2007
- Rajiv Gandhi Awards – Sports: 2005
- Player of the tournament in 2003 Cricket World Cup
- Maharashtra Bhushan Award, Maharashtra State's highest Civilian Award in 2001
- Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, 1999
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India's highest honour given for achievement in sports, 1997–98.
- Wisden Cricketer of the Year: 1997
- Arjuna Award, by the Government of India in recognition of his outstanding achievement in Cricket, 1994
In January 2008, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown suggested that Sachin should be conferred with an honorary knighthood for his contribution to international cricket.He was mentioned in the TIME magazine as "The greatest living exponent of his craft."
Career Achivements
Sachin Tendulkar is the most prolific run scorer in one-day internationals with 17,598 runs. With a current aggregate of 13447 Test runs, he surpassed Brian Lara's previous record tally of 11,953 runs as the highest run scorer in test matches in the second Test of Australia's 2008 tour of India in Mohali. Sachin described "It is definitely the biggest achievement in 19 years of my career" on the day he achieved the record. He also holds the record of highest number of centuries in both Test (47) and ODI cricket (46). Throughout his career, he has made a strong impact on Indian cricket and was, at one time, the foundation of most of the team's victories. In recognition with his impact on sport in a cricket-loving country like India, Tendulkar has been granted the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award, Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India. He was also chosen as one of hte five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1997 and is ranked by the Wisden 100 as the second best test batsman and best ODI batsman of all time.
Tendulkar has also consistently done well in Cricket World Cups. Tendulkar was the highest run scorer of the 2003 Cricket World Cup and 1996 Cricket World Cup. Tendulkar has scored over 1000 runs in a calendar year in ODIs 7 times, and in 1998 he scored 1894 runs, easily the record for the highest number of runs scored by any player in a single calendar year for one day internationals. Tendulkar is also one of the very few players who are still playing in international cricket from the 1980s. On February 24, 2010, Sachin broke the previous world record for highest individual run scorer in an ODI and became the first cricketer to score double century in ODI. He scored 200 runs and broke the previous record of 194 runs jointly held by Pakistan opener Saeed Anwar and Zimbabwe's Charles Coventry.
He has been Man of the Match 13 times in Test matches and Man of the Series four times, out of them twice in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The performances earned him respect from Australian cricket fans and players. Similarly he has been Man of the Match 60 times in One day International matches and Man of the Series 14 times.
Tendulkar has also consistently done well in Cricket World Cups. Tendulkar was the highest run scorer of the 2003 Cricket World Cup and 1996 Cricket World Cup. Tendulkar has scored over 1000 runs in a calendar year in ODIs 7 times, and in 1998 he scored 1894 runs, easily the record for the highest number of runs scored by any player in a single calendar year for one day internationals. Tendulkar is also one of the very few players who are still playing in international cricket from the 1980s. On February 24, 2010, Sachin broke the previous world record for highest individual run scorer in an ODI and became the first cricketer to score double century in ODI. He scored 200 runs and broke the previous record of 194 runs jointly held by Pakistan opener Saeed Anwar and Zimbabwe's Charles Coventry.
He has been Man of the Match 13 times in Test matches and Man of the Series four times, out of them twice in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The performances earned him respect from Australian cricket fans and players. Similarly he has been Man of the Match 60 times in One day International matches and Man of the Series 14 times.
Fan Following
Sachin Tendulkar's entry into world cricket was very much hyped up by former Indian stars and those who had seen him play. By scoring his first half-century in his second match and his first century aged 17, Tendulkar's consistent performances earned him a fan following across the globe, including amongst Australian crowds, where Tendulkar has consistently scored centuries. One of the most popular sayings by Sachin's fans is "Cricket is my religion and Sachin is my God". Cricinfo mentions in his profile that "... Tendulkar remains, by a distance, the most worshipped cricketer in the world."
At home in Mumbai, Tendulkar's fan following is so great that he is unable to lead a normal life. Ian Chappell has said that he would be unable to cope with the lifestyle Tendulkar was forced to lead, having to "wear a wig and go out and watch a movie only at night".In an interview with Tim Sheridan, Tendulkar admitted that he sometimes went for quiet drives in the streets of Mumbai late at night when he would be able to enjoy some peace and silence.
At home in Mumbai, Tendulkar's fan following is so great that he is unable to lead a normal life. Ian Chappell has said that he would be unable to cope with the lifestyle Tendulkar was forced to lead, having to "wear a wig and go out and watch a movie only at night".In an interview with Tim Sheridan, Tendulkar admitted that he sometimes went for quiet drives in the streets of Mumbai late at night when he would be able to enjoy some peace and silence.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Flawless Tendulker 200 gives india series
It took nearly 40 years of waiting and it was well worth it. Sachin Tendulkar chose one of the better bowling attacks doing the rounds, to eclipse the record for the highest score, before bringing up the first double-hundred in ODI history. The spectators at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium became the envy of cricket fans as they witnessed one of the country's favourite sporting heroes play a breathtaking innings which not only set up a 153-run annihilation but also the series victory. He may have been run-out cheaply in the previous match, but nothing could deny him today - be it bowlers, fielders, mix-ups or cramps. Dinesh Karthik, Yusuf Pathan and MS Dhoni stood by and admired as the master unfurled all the shots in his repertoire.
At 36, Tendulkar hasn't shown signs of ageing, and his sparkling touch in both forms of the game has ruled out all possibilities of him checking out anytime soon. Fatigue, cramps and paucity of time have stood in the way of batsmen going that extra mile to get to the 200-mark. Tendulkar did cramp up after crossing 150, but he didn't opt for a runner. His experience of 20 years at the international level came into play in this historic innings, staying at the crease from the first ball to the last, never once losing focus. There were no chances offered, no dropped catches, making his innings absolutely flawless.
A swirl of emotions must have run through his mind as he approached one record after another but he ensured he was never lost in the moment. His running between the wickets remained just as swift as it had been at the start of the innings. The humidity in Gwalior was bound to test him but he stood above it all and played like he owned the game, toying with the bowling with a mix of nonchalance and brute power.
In the 46th over, with a flick for two past short fine-leg, Tendulkar broke the record for the highest ODI score, going past the 194 made by Zimbabwe's Charles Coventry and Pakistan's Saeed Anwar, and to say that he acknowledged his feat modestly would be an understatement. His muted celebration on going past 194, true to style, made his innings all the more endearing. He didn't raise his bat, merely shook hands with Mark Boucher and simply carried on batting amid the din. Coming from a man who is not known to showing too much emotion with the bat in hand, it wasn't surprising. He reserved his celebrations for the magic figure of 200, which he reached in the final over with a squirt off Charl Langeveldt past backward point. He raised his bat, took off his helmet and looked up at the skies and it was only fitting that one-day cricket's highest run-getter reached the landmark.
Tendulkar's innings featured strokes of the highest quality, but his true genius was exemplified by one particular shot which rendered even the best bowler in the world helpless. In the first over of the batting Powerplay - taken in the 35th over - Dale Steyn fired it in the block-hole for three deliveries outside off to keep him quiet. Tendulkar, feeling the need to improvise, walked right across his stumps and nonchalantly flicked him across the line, hopping in his crease on one leg to bisect the gap at midwicket. A helpless Steyn watched the ball speed away and merely shrugged his shoulders. There was no use searching for excuses or venting frustrations at the temerity of that shot. It was just that kind of afternoon for the bowlers.
It wasn't all just about the cheekiness of his shots. His timing and placement were the hallmarks at the start of his innings. On a road of a pitch which offered no margin of error for the bowlers, he squeezed out full deliveries past the covers and off his pads. With no seam movement on offer, Jacques Kallis took the slips off and placed them in catching positions within the 15-yard circle, hoping to induce a mistake. But Tendulkar outplayed all of them, making room to manoeuver it past a number of green shirts. There were a minimum of two runs on offer each time the ball was placed wide of them and the quick outfield did the rest.
Once he got his eye in, the short boundaries and the flat pitch were too inviting. Virender Sehwag's dismissal for 11, caught at third man, was just an aberration as Karthik, Pathan and Dhoni traded cricket bats for golf clubs. Driving and lofting through the line had never been this easy. Tendulkar could have driven them inside out in his sleep.
The two century stands, with Karthik and then with Dhoni, may well get lost in the scorecard but they were vital building blocks. Karthik rotated the strike well in their stand of 194, struck three clean sixes and helped himself to his career-best performance. That partnership sent out ominous signs to the South Africans that they were in for something massive. Add Dhoni's bludgeoning hits and scoops and you had a score in excess of 400.
Tendulkar reached his fifty off 37 balls and his century off 90. Ironically, he struck his first six - over long-on - when on 111. Pathan bashed it around at the other end, clubbing full tosses and short deliveries in his 23-ball 36, as India amassed 63 runs in the batting Powerplay. The South African seamers made the mistake of trying to bowl too fast and as a result, sent down too many full tosses and full deliveries. The unplayable yorkers remained elusive and Tendulkar, who was seeing it like a beach ball, picked the gaps, made room and improvised.
He reached his 150 by making room to Parnell and chipping him over midwicket with a simple bat twirl at the point of contact. The heartbreak of Hyderabad, when his scintillating 175 all but won India the match against Australia last year, must have lingered in his mind as he approached that score again. A towering six over long-on later, he not only eclipsed Kapil Dev's 175 but also looked set to wipe out his own record. He started clutching his thighs, indicating that cramps had set in, but even that could not stop him today.
He equalled his highest score of 186 by pulling a lollipop of a full toss off Kallis and broke his own and India's record with a single to square leg. Fortunately, he didn't have to do much running and played the spectator's role for a change as Dhoni bulldozed his way to a 35-ball 68, muscling four sixes. The Dhoni bottom-hand is the strongest in the business these days and the exhausted spectators had enough energy left in their vocal chords to cheer him on as well.
The record of 200, however, was yet to be attained and the crowd were desperate for Tendulkar to get the strike. Dhoni tore into Steyn for 17 off the 49th over and retained the strike for the 50th. After hammering the first ball of the 50th for six, he shoveled a full toss to deep midwicket where Hashim Amla made a brilliant save. Tendulkar settled for a single and the crowd were on their feet as they watched him make history. It was all the more fitting for another reason because it was on this very day, back in 1988, that he and Vinod Kambli added a mammoth 664 - then a world record - in a school match.
There was to be no repeat of the 434-chase at the Wanderers, when South Africa took guard, perhaps mentally and physically shaken after the assault, and with a partisan crowd to contend with. AB de Villiers' attacking ton got completely lost in the chase as South Africa merely went through the motions. It was all a question of how quickly India could wrap it up.
Tendulkar's knock drew parallels with Brendon McCullum's frenetic 158 in the IPL opener in Bangalore two years ago. The match was all about individual brilliance but not a contest. While such games are good in small doses, for one-day cricket to survive on the whole, it needs more contests between bat and ball.
At 36, Tendulkar hasn't shown signs of ageing, and his sparkling touch in both forms of the game has ruled out all possibilities of him checking out anytime soon. Fatigue, cramps and paucity of time have stood in the way of batsmen going that extra mile to get to the 200-mark. Tendulkar did cramp up after crossing 150, but he didn't opt for a runner. His experience of 20 years at the international level came into play in this historic innings, staying at the crease from the first ball to the last, never once losing focus. There were no chances offered, no dropped catches, making his innings absolutely flawless.
A swirl of emotions must have run through his mind as he approached one record after another but he ensured he was never lost in the moment. His running between the wickets remained just as swift as it had been at the start of the innings. The humidity in Gwalior was bound to test him but he stood above it all and played like he owned the game, toying with the bowling with a mix of nonchalance and brute power.
In the 46th over, with a flick for two past short fine-leg, Tendulkar broke the record for the highest ODI score, going past the 194 made by Zimbabwe's Charles Coventry and Pakistan's Saeed Anwar, and to say that he acknowledged his feat modestly would be an understatement. His muted celebration on going past 194, true to style, made his innings all the more endearing. He didn't raise his bat, merely shook hands with Mark Boucher and simply carried on batting amid the din. Coming from a man who is not known to showing too much emotion with the bat in hand, it wasn't surprising. He reserved his celebrations for the magic figure of 200, which he reached in the final over with a squirt off Charl Langeveldt past backward point. He raised his bat, took off his helmet and looked up at the skies and it was only fitting that one-day cricket's highest run-getter reached the landmark.
Tendulkar's innings featured strokes of the highest quality, but his true genius was exemplified by one particular shot which rendered even the best bowler in the world helpless. In the first over of the batting Powerplay - taken in the 35th over - Dale Steyn fired it in the block-hole for three deliveries outside off to keep him quiet. Tendulkar, feeling the need to improvise, walked right across his stumps and nonchalantly flicked him across the line, hopping in his crease on one leg to bisect the gap at midwicket. A helpless Steyn watched the ball speed away and merely shrugged his shoulders. There was no use searching for excuses or venting frustrations at the temerity of that shot. It was just that kind of afternoon for the bowlers.
It wasn't all just about the cheekiness of his shots. His timing and placement were the hallmarks at the start of his innings. On a road of a pitch which offered no margin of error for the bowlers, he squeezed out full deliveries past the covers and off his pads. With no seam movement on offer, Jacques Kallis took the slips off and placed them in catching positions within the 15-yard circle, hoping to induce a mistake. But Tendulkar outplayed all of them, making room to manoeuver it past a number of green shirts. There were a minimum of two runs on offer each time the ball was placed wide of them and the quick outfield did the rest.
Once he got his eye in, the short boundaries and the flat pitch were too inviting. Virender Sehwag's dismissal for 11, caught at third man, was just an aberration as Karthik, Pathan and Dhoni traded cricket bats for golf clubs. Driving and lofting through the line had never been this easy. Tendulkar could have driven them inside out in his sleep.
The two century stands, with Karthik and then with Dhoni, may well get lost in the scorecard but they were vital building blocks. Karthik rotated the strike well in their stand of 194, struck three clean sixes and helped himself to his career-best performance. That partnership sent out ominous signs to the South Africans that they were in for something massive. Add Dhoni's bludgeoning hits and scoops and you had a score in excess of 400.
Tendulkar reached his fifty off 37 balls and his century off 90. Ironically, he struck his first six - over long-on - when on 111. Pathan bashed it around at the other end, clubbing full tosses and short deliveries in his 23-ball 36, as India amassed 63 runs in the batting Powerplay. The South African seamers made the mistake of trying to bowl too fast and as a result, sent down too many full tosses and full deliveries. The unplayable yorkers remained elusive and Tendulkar, who was seeing it like a beach ball, picked the gaps, made room and improvised.
He reached his 150 by making room to Parnell and chipping him over midwicket with a simple bat twirl at the point of contact. The heartbreak of Hyderabad, when his scintillating 175 all but won India the match against Australia last year, must have lingered in his mind as he approached that score again. A towering six over long-on later, he not only eclipsed Kapil Dev's 175 but also looked set to wipe out his own record. He started clutching his thighs, indicating that cramps had set in, but even that could not stop him today.
He equalled his highest score of 186 by pulling a lollipop of a full toss off Kallis and broke his own and India's record with a single to square leg. Fortunately, he didn't have to do much running and played the spectator's role for a change as Dhoni bulldozed his way to a 35-ball 68, muscling four sixes. The Dhoni bottom-hand is the strongest in the business these days and the exhausted spectators had enough energy left in their vocal chords to cheer him on as well.
The record of 200, however, was yet to be attained and the crowd were desperate for Tendulkar to get the strike. Dhoni tore into Steyn for 17 off the 49th over and retained the strike for the 50th. After hammering the first ball of the 50th for six, he shoveled a full toss to deep midwicket where Hashim Amla made a brilliant save. Tendulkar settled for a single and the crowd were on their feet as they watched him make history. It was all the more fitting for another reason because it was on this very day, back in 1988, that he and Vinod Kambli added a mammoth 664 - then a world record - in a school match.
There was to be no repeat of the 434-chase at the Wanderers, when South Africa took guard, perhaps mentally and physically shaken after the assault, and with a partisan crowd to contend with. AB de Villiers' attacking ton got completely lost in the chase as South Africa merely went through the motions. It was all a question of how quickly India could wrap it up.
Tendulkar's knock drew parallels with Brendon McCullum's frenetic 158 in the IPL opener in Bangalore two years ago. The match was all about individual brilliance but not a contest. While such games are good in small doses, for one-day cricket to survive on the whole, it needs more contests between bat and ball.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Record breaking double!!!!!
By a coincidence, Virender Sehwagwas playing his 221st match, exactly half of SR Tendulkar's 442 matches. Their combined total is 663 matches. SR Tendulkar was playing his 431st innings in this game.
The three figure partnership of 194 runs between SR Tendulkar and KRDKarthikin this game represent the 292nd occasion of Indian batsmen posting a three figure partnership in one day games. It also represents the 62nd occasion of Indian batsmen posting a three figure partnership for the second wicket in one day games. The three figure partnership of 194 runs between SR Tendulkar and KRD Karthik in this game represents the 93rd occasion of SR Tendulkar being a partner in a three figure partnership in One-day games.
SR Tendulkar registered his 46th One-day hundred in this game. This was his fourth hundred againstSouth Africa. The other three hundreds are - 122 atVadodaraon17.03.00, 114 at Mumbai on 14.12.96 and 101 at Jo'burg on 05.10.01. SR Tendulkar's 200 not out in this game represent his highest score against South Africa.
194 runs partnership between SR Tendulkar and KRD Karthik in this game represents the ground record for the highest three figure partnership at Gwalior. The previous best was 190 runs partnership between SR Tendulkar andVVS Laxmanagainst Australia on 26.10.03 194 runs partnership between SR Tendulkar and KRD Karthik in this game represents the 12th three figure partnership at Gwalior
With 25 boundary fours in this innings of 200 not out, SR Tendulkar has now the record of most boundary fours in an innings. He wrested the record of 24 boundary fours of ST Jayasuriya in his knock of 157 against Netherlands at Amstelveen on 04.07.06 which was the previous record of most boundary fours in an innings
SR Tendulkar with his score on 195 not out in this innings became the highest scorer in One-day games when he went past the scores of 194 not out by CK Coventry of Zimbabwe againstBangladeshat Bulawayo on 16.08.09 and 194 bySaeed Anwarof Pakistan vs India atChennaion 21.05.97, SR Tendulkar's score of 200 not out in this innings became the highest scorer on Indian soil going past 194 by Saeed Anwar of Pakistan against India at Chennai on 21.05.97. SR Tendulkar became the first batsman in the history of One-day games to score 200 runs when he scored 200 not out in this game. It was an improvement over his 186 not out against New Zealand at Hyderabad.
SR Tendulkar now owns the record for most 150 plus scores in One-day games. His 200 not out in this game was his fifth score of 150 plus runs. He wrested the record from ST Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka who has scored four scores of 150 plus runs. Tendulkar's five scores of 150 plus runs are - 200 not out vs South Africa atGwalioron 24.02.10, 186 not out vs 175 vs Australia at Hyderabad on 05.11.09, 163 retd hurt vs New Zealand at Christchurch on 08.03.09 and 152 vs Namibia at Pietermaritzburg on 23.02.03.
This game witnessed two three figure partnerships in India's innings. SR Tendulkar and KRD Karthik added 194 runs for the second wicket and SR Tendulkar andMS Dhoniadded 101 runs in an unfinished stand for the fourth wicket - providing the 106th occasion of a team posting two or more three figure partnerships in its innings.
This game witnessed two three figure partnerships in India's innings. SR Tendulkar and KRD Karthik added 194 runs for the second wicket and SR Tendulkar and MS Dhoni added 101 runs in an unfinished stand for the fourth wicket - providing the 23rd occasion of India posting two three figure partnerships in its innings.
The three figure partnership of 194 runs between SR Tendulkar and KRDKarthikin this game represent the 292nd occasion of Indian batsmen posting a three figure partnership in one day games. It also represents the 62nd occasion of Indian batsmen posting a three figure partnership for the second wicket in one day games. The three figure partnership of 194 runs between SR Tendulkar and KRD Karthik in this game represents the 93rd occasion of SR Tendulkar being a partner in a three figure partnership in One-day games.
SR Tendulkar registered his 46th One-day hundred in this game. This was his fourth hundred againstSouth Africa. The other three hundreds are - 122 atVadodaraon17.03.00, 114 at Mumbai on 14.12.96 and 101 at Jo'burg on 05.10.01. SR Tendulkar's 200 not out in this game represent his highest score against South Africa.
194 runs partnership between SR Tendulkar and KRD Karthik in this game represents the ground record for the highest three figure partnership at Gwalior. The previous best was 190 runs partnership between SR Tendulkar andVVS Laxmanagainst Australia on 26.10.03 194 runs partnership between SR Tendulkar and KRD Karthik in this game represents the 12th three figure partnership at Gwalior
With 25 boundary fours in this innings of 200 not out, SR Tendulkar has now the record of most boundary fours in an innings. He wrested the record of 24 boundary fours of ST Jayasuriya in his knock of 157 against Netherlands at Amstelveen on 04.07.06 which was the previous record of most boundary fours in an innings
SR Tendulkar with his score on 195 not out in this innings became the highest scorer in One-day games when he went past the scores of 194 not out by CK Coventry of Zimbabwe againstBangladeshat Bulawayo on 16.08.09 and 194 bySaeed Anwarof Pakistan vs India atChennaion 21.05.97, SR Tendulkar's score of 200 not out in this innings became the highest scorer on Indian soil going past 194 by Saeed Anwar of Pakistan against India at Chennai on 21.05.97. SR Tendulkar became the first batsman in the history of One-day games to score 200 runs when he scored 200 not out in this game. It was an improvement over his 186 not out against New Zealand at Hyderabad.
SR Tendulkar now owns the record for most 150 plus scores in One-day games. His 200 not out in this game was his fifth score of 150 plus runs. He wrested the record from ST Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka who has scored four scores of 150 plus runs. Tendulkar's five scores of 150 plus runs are - 200 not out vs South Africa atGwalioron 24.02.10, 186 not out vs 175 vs Australia at Hyderabad on 05.11.09, 163 retd hurt vs New Zealand at Christchurch on 08.03.09 and 152 vs Namibia at Pietermaritzburg on 23.02.03.
This game witnessed two three figure partnerships in India's innings. SR Tendulkar and KRD Karthik added 194 runs for the second wicket and SR Tendulkar andMS Dhoniadded 101 runs in an unfinished stand for the fourth wicket - providing the 106th occasion of a team posting two or more three figure partnerships in its innings.
This game witnessed two three figure partnerships in India's innings. SR Tendulkar and KRD Karthik added 194 runs for the second wicket and SR Tendulkar and MS Dhoni added 101 runs in an unfinished stand for the fourth wicket - providing the 23rd occasion of India posting two three figure partnerships in its innings.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
QUOTES
" I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing us to breathe the same air as you do "
Shahrukh Khan
THE PROTEAS FACING THE IRISH MUSIC FROM THE INDIAN COMPOSER.
After scoring 99,93 during ireland tour
" Success is a process... During that journey sometimes there are stones thrown at you, and you convert them into milestones."
God Himself
Performance is one thing, performing back to back is something else. People may call him [Tendulkar] a sitting elephant, but he's the best. He never said a word, and wanted to let his bat do the talking.
MS Dhoni
WHENEVER HE FINDS HIMSELF UNDER CRITICISM , HE ALWAYS COMES UP WITH HIS OWN SACHINISM .
After the epic knock of 241*
Commit all your crimes when Sachin is batting. They will go unnoticed because even the Lord is watching. Play card
He loves India. He has named his child India. His biggest player is actually Tendulkar. Right now I'm hoping Tendulkar does not hit a catch to him because he will probably drop it to watch him bat. Irving Romaine
Nothing bad can happen to us if we're on a plane in India with Sachin Tendulkar on it
Hashim Amla
Sachin Tendulkar is, in my time, the best player without doubt - daylight second, Brian Lara third Shane Warne
Sometimes you get so engrossed in watching batsmen like Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar that you lose focus on your job.
Yaseer Hameed after dropping a catch offered by Sachin
Sachin was so focused. He never looked like getting out. He was batting with single-minded devotion. It was truly remarkable. It was a lesson
Martina navratilova
For someone ,who started to learn the art of opposition fight at tender age .For someone, who beats the opposition in their own den, by their own weapon is the greatest BRAVE HEART . If it happens by an INDIAN, its jusy MAJESTY , if its by SACHIN , its LEGACY
You can never say that he is out of form. He is a volcano waiting to explode and we hope he doesn't do that against us in the one-dayers Darell Tuffy
Matching the indian mind with the german mind is always an uphill task. But its the indian heart which captured the german mind
when ADIDAS announced that they are going to continue with sachin even after his retirement
"He has been in form longer than some of our guys have been alive" Daniel Vettori
Shahrukh Khan
THE PROTEAS FACING THE IRISH MUSIC FROM THE INDIAN COMPOSER.
After scoring 99,93 during ireland tour
" Success is a process... During that journey sometimes there are stones thrown at you, and you convert them into milestones."
God Himself
Performance is one thing, performing back to back is something else. People may call him [Tendulkar] a sitting elephant, but he's the best. He never said a word, and wanted to let his bat do the talking.
MS Dhoni
WHENEVER HE FINDS HIMSELF UNDER CRITICISM , HE ALWAYS COMES UP WITH HIS OWN SACHINISM .
After the epic knock of 241*
Commit all your crimes when Sachin is batting. They will go unnoticed because even the Lord is watching. Play card
He loves India. He has named his child India. His biggest player is actually Tendulkar. Right now I'm hoping Tendulkar does not hit a catch to him because he will probably drop it to watch him bat. Irving Romaine
Nothing bad can happen to us if we're on a plane in India with Sachin Tendulkar on it
Hashim Amla
Sachin Tendulkar is, in my time, the best player without doubt - daylight second, Brian Lara third Shane Warne
Sometimes you get so engrossed in watching batsmen like Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar that you lose focus on your job.
Yaseer Hameed after dropping a catch offered by Sachin
Sachin was so focused. He never looked like getting out. He was batting with single-minded devotion. It was truly remarkable. It was a lesson
Martina navratilova
For someone ,who started to learn the art of opposition fight at tender age .For someone, who beats the opposition in their own den, by their own weapon is the greatest BRAVE HEART . If it happens by an INDIAN, its jusy MAJESTY , if its by SACHIN , its LEGACY
You can never say that he is out of form. He is a volcano waiting to explode and we hope he doesn't do that against us in the one-dayers Darell Tuffy
Matching the indian mind with the german mind is always an uphill task. But its the indian heart which captured the german mind
when ADIDAS announced that they are going to continue with sachin even after his retirement
"He has been in form longer than some of our guys have been alive" Daniel Vettori
God's top 20 moments
1. The first time I put on my India cap
It was a great moment for me. If I am not mistaken, Chandu Borde, our team manager, handed me my cap. But there was no presentation ceremony like they have today.
2. My first Test hundred
It came at Old Trafford in 1990. Manoj Prabhakar helped me with some determined batting at the other end. I was not at all surprised by what he did that day because I had played with him earlier and I knew that he was a terrific competitor. We prevented England from winning.
3. The counter-attacking 114 at Perth
This ton is a favourite of mine. Australia had four quick bowlers (Craig McDermott, Merv Hughes, Mike Whitney and Paul Reiffel) but I thought McDermott was the most challenging to face in Perth. Throughout the series he was their main bowler.
4. Bowling the last over against SA in the 1993 Hero Cup
South Africa needed six runs to win in the last over. There was no plan for me to bowl that over but I said I was very confident of bowling it successfully. I conceded just three and we won.
5. 82 (off 49 balls) against NZ as opener in 1994
I was the vice-captain then and our regular opener Navjot Singh Sidhu woke up with a stiff neck. I requested Azhar (Mohammad Azharuddin) and Ajit Wadekar (coach) to "just give me one opportunity and I am very confident of playing some big shots. And if I fail, I'll never ever come to you again".
6. Winning the Titan Cup in 1996
South Africa were playing terrific cricket right through the tournament. We adopted a different strategy. As captain I chose to have five fielders on the on side. I told Robin Singh not to bowl seam but cutters into the body and make them score everything on the on side. Maybe that came as a surprise for them.. This was one low-scoring game that I can never forget.
7. 1997 Sahara Cup win over Pakistan
We were without our top three bowlers for this tournament, which I led India in. We were without Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad and Anil Kumble, but we had Abey Kuruvilla, Harvinder Singh, Debasish Mohanty and Nilesh Kulkarni as newcomers. It was a fantastic effort and we beat Pakistan 4-1. Incredible!
8. Scoring 155 against Australia in the 1998 Chennai Test
I thought getting used to that angle from Shane Warne was important. Before the Test I not only practiced with Laxman Sivaramakrishnan but Nilesh Kulkarni and Sairaj Bahutule in Mumbai too. They gave me a lot of practice. I clearly remember saying to my friends after I scored a double hundred for Mumbai against Australia that Warne has not bowled a single ball round the wicket and I know that he will do it in the Test series.
9. 1998's sandstorm hundred in Sharjah against Australia
The first of the two back-to-back hundreds in Sharjah, 1998. Tendulkar highlighted the similarities between his Sharjah efforts and the two special knocks in the 2008 tri-series finals in Australia in terms of how small a gap there was between the two matches of each of these series, which made it so difficult on the body.
10. Meeting Don Bradman in Adelaide
Without doubt, the most riveting moment in my off-field career. The trip to Adelaide in 1998 with Shane Warne was truly special and to meet him on his 90th birthday made it even more memorable. It was great to spend 45 minutes to an hour talking cricket with him.
11. Beating England at Leeds, 2002
Sanjay Bangar played beautifully for his 68 and he put on a good partnership with Rahul Dravid, who played superbly. I remember going to bat after tea and Andrew Flintoff was bowling a lot of short-pitched stuff round the wicket. I moved pretty well the next day and I remember leaving deliveries off Matthew Hoggard, who bowled a few overs outside the off stump. I paced my innings well (193) and went past Sir Don's tally of 29 Test hundreds.
12. Match-winning 98 against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup
There was that six off Shoaib (Akhtar) but there were other shots which I felt good about in that match. I was playing with a finger injury and the finger wouldn't straighten. I avoided fielding practice through the tournament because I was experiencing a lot of pain while catching. I gave fielding practice though.
13. First series win in Pakistan, 2003-04
Undoubtedly one of the top series wins in my career. Remember, Pakistan had a good side and we went there and won convincingly.
14. 35th Test hundred, v Sri Lanka in Delhi, 2005
There was this pressure which was building up to go past Sunil Gavaskar in the Test century tally. The room service and housekeeping people in my hotel only spoke about me getting century No 35. I was glad and relieved when it happened because I could then start enjoying the game again.
15. Beating England in Nottingham in 2007
We have always managed to come back well after a defeat or saving a match. This is a classic example. We escaped defeat in the opening Test at Lord's but came back to win in Trent Bridge.
16. Beating Australia in Perth in 2008
We were determined to win this Test after what happened in Sydney. We shouldn't have lost in Sydney considering we were in a good position on the first day, but then the world has seen what happened (referring to the umpiring).
17. The CB Series triumph in Australia in 2008
Not only India, but all other sides found Australia too hard to beat. My hundred in the first final at Sydney was satisfying but the second match in Brisbane was tough. We went to bed at 3 am in Sydney after a day-night game. I just could not sleep and woke up at 8 am to catch a morning flight. I was trying every possible thing to be fresh for the next day's match. The next day we won the toss and batted. It was quite humid so the conditions were tough. We knew that the first half hour was crucial. I thought even if I don't get runs quickly, it's fine because if we don't lose early wickets, the big strokeplayers can always capitalise on the start and that's what happened
18. Going past Brian Lara's Test run tally in Mohali, 2008
Becoming the highest run-getter in world cricket doesn't happen overnight. Lara is a special player and a guy who is a good friend. We respect each other immensely. To go past his tally meant that I have contributed something to cricket.
19. Second-innings Test hundred against England in Chennai, 2008
Awesome feeling to get that hundred, which I dedicated to the people of Mumbai. It was a very emotional time. It was important to stay there till the end and I remember telling my batting partner, Yuvraj Singh, that it's still not over so don't relax. I recalled that close game against Pakistan in 1999 when we lost by 12 runs.
20. 175 against Australia in Hyderabad, 2009
I know my body well and I know how much I can push so I was not surprised to score a 175 at the age of 36. Even if I had to complete those 20 runs by running them, I was absolutely fine. I was a few runs short of completing 17,000 ODI runs before the match, but that wasn't playing on my mind. However, every now and again it appeared on the scoreboard. That's not important to me. The important thing was to go out and win.
It was a great moment for me. If I am not mistaken, Chandu Borde, our team manager, handed me my cap. But there was no presentation ceremony like they have today.
2. My first Test hundred
It came at Old Trafford in 1990. Manoj Prabhakar helped me with some determined batting at the other end. I was not at all surprised by what he did that day because I had played with him earlier and I knew that he was a terrific competitor. We prevented England from winning.
3. The counter-attacking 114 at Perth
This ton is a favourite of mine. Australia had four quick bowlers (Craig McDermott, Merv Hughes, Mike Whitney and Paul Reiffel) but I thought McDermott was the most challenging to face in Perth. Throughout the series he was their main bowler.
4. Bowling the last over against SA in the 1993 Hero Cup
South Africa needed six runs to win in the last over. There was no plan for me to bowl that over but I said I was very confident of bowling it successfully. I conceded just three and we won.
5. 82 (off 49 balls) against NZ as opener in 1994
I was the vice-captain then and our regular opener Navjot Singh Sidhu woke up with a stiff neck. I requested Azhar (Mohammad Azharuddin) and Ajit Wadekar (coach) to "just give me one opportunity and I am very confident of playing some big shots. And if I fail, I'll never ever come to you again".
6. Winning the Titan Cup in 1996
South Africa were playing terrific cricket right through the tournament. We adopted a different strategy. As captain I chose to have five fielders on the on side. I told Robin Singh not to bowl seam but cutters into the body and make them score everything on the on side. Maybe that came as a surprise for them.. This was one low-scoring game that I can never forget.
7. 1997 Sahara Cup win over Pakistan
We were without our top three bowlers for this tournament, which I led India in. We were without Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad and Anil Kumble, but we had Abey Kuruvilla, Harvinder Singh, Debasish Mohanty and Nilesh Kulkarni as newcomers. It was a fantastic effort and we beat Pakistan 4-1. Incredible!
8. Scoring 155 against Australia in the 1998 Chennai Test
I thought getting used to that angle from Shane Warne was important. Before the Test I not only practiced with Laxman Sivaramakrishnan but Nilesh Kulkarni and Sairaj Bahutule in Mumbai too. They gave me a lot of practice. I clearly remember saying to my friends after I scored a double hundred for Mumbai against Australia that Warne has not bowled a single ball round the wicket and I know that he will do it in the Test series.
9. 1998's sandstorm hundred in Sharjah against Australia
The first of the two back-to-back hundreds in Sharjah, 1998. Tendulkar highlighted the similarities between his Sharjah efforts and the two special knocks in the 2008 tri-series finals in Australia in terms of how small a gap there was between the two matches of each of these series, which made it so difficult on the body.
10. Meeting Don Bradman in Adelaide
Without doubt, the most riveting moment in my off-field career. The trip to Adelaide in 1998 with Shane Warne was truly special and to meet him on his 90th birthday made it even more memorable. It was great to spend 45 minutes to an hour talking cricket with him.
11. Beating England at Leeds, 2002
Sanjay Bangar played beautifully for his 68 and he put on a good partnership with Rahul Dravid, who played superbly. I remember going to bat after tea and Andrew Flintoff was bowling a lot of short-pitched stuff round the wicket. I moved pretty well the next day and I remember leaving deliveries off Matthew Hoggard, who bowled a few overs outside the off stump. I paced my innings well (193) and went past Sir Don's tally of 29 Test hundreds.
12. Match-winning 98 against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup
There was that six off Shoaib (Akhtar) but there were other shots which I felt good about in that match. I was playing with a finger injury and the finger wouldn't straighten. I avoided fielding practice through the tournament because I was experiencing a lot of pain while catching. I gave fielding practice though.
13. First series win in Pakistan, 2003-04
Undoubtedly one of the top series wins in my career. Remember, Pakistan had a good side and we went there and won convincingly.
14. 35th Test hundred, v Sri Lanka in Delhi, 2005
There was this pressure which was building up to go past Sunil Gavaskar in the Test century tally. The room service and housekeeping people in my hotel only spoke about me getting century No 35. I was glad and relieved when it happened because I could then start enjoying the game again.
15. Beating England in Nottingham in 2007
We have always managed to come back well after a defeat or saving a match. This is a classic example. We escaped defeat in the opening Test at Lord's but came back to win in Trent Bridge.
16. Beating Australia in Perth in 2008
We were determined to win this Test after what happened in Sydney. We shouldn't have lost in Sydney considering we were in a good position on the first day, but then the world has seen what happened (referring to the umpiring).
17. The CB Series triumph in Australia in 2008
Not only India, but all other sides found Australia too hard to beat. My hundred in the first final at Sydney was satisfying but the second match in Brisbane was tough. We went to bed at 3 am in Sydney after a day-night game. I just could not sleep and woke up at 8 am to catch a morning flight. I was trying every possible thing to be fresh for the next day's match. The next day we won the toss and batted. It was quite humid so the conditions were tough. We knew that the first half hour was crucial. I thought even if I don't get runs quickly, it's fine because if we don't lose early wickets, the big strokeplayers can always capitalise on the start and that's what happened
18. Going past Brian Lara's Test run tally in Mohali, 2008
Becoming the highest run-getter in world cricket doesn't happen overnight. Lara is a special player and a guy who is a good friend. We respect each other immensely. To go past his tally meant that I have contributed something to cricket.
19. Second-innings Test hundred against England in Chennai, 2008
Awesome feeling to get that hundred, which I dedicated to the people of Mumbai. It was a very emotional time. It was important to stay there till the end and I remember telling my batting partner, Yuvraj Singh, that it's still not over so don't relax. I recalled that close game against Pakistan in 1999 when we lost by 12 runs.
20. 175 against Australia in Hyderabad, 2009
I know my body well and I know how much I can push so I was not surprised to score a 175 at the age of 36. Even if I had to complete those 20 runs by running them, I was absolutely fine. I was a few runs short of completing 17,000 ODI runs before the match, but that wasn't playing on my mind. However, every now and again it appeared on the scoreboard. That's not important to me. The important thing was to go out and win.
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