A STEP AWAY FROM GREATNESS
136 at Chennai vs Pakistan in 1999
Battling a sore back, demons in the pitch, a top-order back in the hut and a bowling unit of Wasim, Waqar and Saqlain Mushtaq, Sachin made what is regarded one of his finest innings. The innings itself is termed 'one step away from greatness' as India lost that Test match by 16 runs. And, a heartbroken Tendulkar did not go and receive the Man of the Match award.
NOTHING IN THE OFF'ING
241 not out vs Australia at Sydney in 2004
Indian captain MS Dhoni might have learnt how to be calm by looking at this innings. The little Master did not play a shot on the off-side for ten fours and 13 minutes over 436 deliveries to bat Australia out of the game and ensured that India drew a series Down Under.
TAMING THE KANGAROOS
155 vs Australia at Chennai in 1998
India had conceded a 71-run first innings lead to Australia when the little genius played a blinder scoring 155 in 191 balls. A build-up to that series was the Tendulkar-Warne rivalry and in this knock, at a point Warne decided to go round the wicket to the right-hander but Sachin's sweeps against the deliveries resulting in boundaries indicated which way the wind was blowing.
SAVING THE DAY
119 not out vs England at Manchester in 1990
His first. At that time India drawing a Test match was like a win because away victorious were rare. Once again the visitors were staring at a defeat at 127 for 5 requiring 398 for victory. At 17 years and 119 days Sachin became the saviour. Whoever saw it, got an idea of what was to come.
The Young Genius
114 at versus Australia at Perth in 1992
On a then difficult and the fastest pitch in the world, India lost by 300 runs but a 114 by him on his first tour Down Under was enough to tell the Aussies that was something special in the offering. It was his second hundred of the tour with 148 at Sydney.
ONE FOR 26/11
103 not out against England in 2008
After the November 26th Mumbai attacks, England toured India and set up an imposing 387-run target. What Sehwag's qucikfire 83 of 68 balls started, Sachin's 103 not out finished. Time and time again he had seen matches being lost after he got out. This time he had made up his mind to finish the job a memorable win. He dedicated the victory to the victim of terrorist attacks.
AGE IS JUST A NUMBER
214 vs Australia at Bangalore in 2010
At 37, he once again showed everyone just why age is a number. Just blunting the visiting attack helped India take a slender lead after the Aussies had put up a fighting 478. It was in the same year that he scored one day internationals (ODI) first double hundred. Age indeed was just a number.
PlAYING THE TEACHER
155 vs South Africa at Bloemfontein in 2001
After a top-order collapse a counter-attacking Sachin hit the Pollocks and the Donalds to all parts of the ground as the student Virender Sehwag watched from the other end of the 22 yards. Short-pitched stuff was dealt with hooks and pulls. The effect was instant as Viru fired his way to a debut ton.
THE CEREBRAl WAY
193 vs England at leeds in 2002
1-0 down in the series, India needed a win. Rahul Dravid and Sanjay Bangar took the body blows on a seaming and swinging leeds pitch. When Sachin came in, the situation demanded stay at the wicket. By the end of his 193 runs, India had amassed a huge score and done enough for an innings win.
Calm and collective
194 not out vs Pakistan at Multan in 2004
It was Viru's 305 which dominated news but Sachin's unbeaten 194 ensured that India reached a huge 675 which batted Pakistan out of the game. A shocking declaration by acting captain Rahul Dravid left Sachin six short of a record two consecutive double hundreds. This had followed his unbeaten 241 against Australia.