Sachin Tendulkar turns 51: The Little Master's greatest innings in images
Published on Apr 24, 2024 05:28 PM IST
- Sachin Tendulkar turns 51 on Wednesday which makes it the perfect excuse to look at some memorable innings by the most prolific international batter of all time
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Sachin Tendulkar was born on April 24, 1973 and just 16 years later, he ended up making his Test debut for India against Pakistan in Karachi. He went on to play in international for 24 years, establishing himself as the most prolific batter in the history of international cricket and pretty much becoming the face of the rise of Indian cricket as a force to be reckoned with. As the great man turns 51, we take a look at some of his most memorable innings and we start with his last one. Tendulkar walked out of his beloved Wankhede Stadium one last time with the bat in hand, having scored 73 off 118 balls against the West Indies. His dismissal led to a hushed silence around the stadium before the crowd rose up and applauded as he walked off the field. India won the match by an innings and 126 runs. (BCCI)
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136 (273) vs Pakistan 1st Test Chennai January 1999 - It was pretty much a one-man show from Tendulkar as he almost single-handedly pushed India close to victory. Apart from him, only two other batters managed double digit scores - Nayan Mongia who scored 52 and Rahul Dravid who made 10 runs. Pakistan looked worried throughout the time that Tendulkar held fort and when he fell, with the score being 254/7 with India chasing 271, they celebrated like they had won the match. Sure enough, India's last three wickets were blown away and Pakistan won by 12 runs. (Getty Images)
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143 (131) vs Australia 6th ODI Coca Cola Cup Sharjah, April 22, 1998 - Another innings in a losing cause for India and like the one in Chennai, this has gone down in cricketing folklore. Better known as the 'Desert Storm', Tendulkar smashed an incredible 141 off 131 balls. It is perhaps a testament to just how dependent India were on him that despite his innings, the team failed to chase down the revised target of 276 off 46 overs and lost by 26 runs. However, Tendulkar's innings helped them qualify for the final where he played yet another blinded - 134 in 131 balls, and led India to a six-wicket win over Australia. (Reuters)
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175 (141) vs Australia 5th ODI Hyderabad November 5, 2009 - The third of Tendulkar's great innings in a losing cause. Australia had set an improbable target of 351 for India to chase and yet, Tendulkar made it look like the hosts could do it after all. He hit 19 fours and four sixes as he opened the batting with Virender Sehwag and played all the way till the 48th over. Australia won the thriller by three runs. (AFP)
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200 (147) vs South Africa 2nd ODI Gwalior February 24, 2010 - Sachin Tendulkar was approaching the twilight of his career, retiring from the sport just three years later, and yet, he broke a glass ceiling. He was the first male player to score a double century in ODI cricket and his innings helped India put up a total of 401/3. South Africa lost by 153 runs. (AP)
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241 (436) vs Australia 4th Test Sydney January 2004 - An extraordinary innings against multiple odds which is remembered fondly by almost every Australian player who was on the field to witness it. Tendulkar had been going through a run of bad form with the Australians trapping him whenever he went for one of his famous cover drives. This time, he pocketed his trademark shot and hardly played anything offside. Tendulkar batted for a whopping 613 minutes and ecked out an unbeaten 241. The match, which was Australia great Steve Waugh's last, ended in a draw. (Getty Images)
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98 (75) vs Pakistan 2003 World Cup Centurion March 1, 2003 - Saeed Anwar's 101 off 126 balls had helped Pakistan set a target of 274 for India to chase. Tendulkar got to work quickly and smashed 98 runs in 75 balls. A 150kph scorcher from Shoaib Akhtar in the 28th over of the match led to his dismissal but Mohammad Kaif, Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh then saw them through to victory. (Getty Images)
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100* (66) vs Kochi Tuskers Kerala 2011 Indian Premier League Mumbai April 15, 2011 - Sachin Tendulkar was the first captain of the Mumbai Indians, although their glory years really started after he ended his playing career. He scored one century for them which came in a league match agains the Kochi Tuskers Kerala. Tendulkar smashed 100 in 66 balls with 12 fours and three sixes and led MI to a score of 182/2. They ended up losing the match quite comprehensively though with a 128-run opening stand between Brendon McCullum and Mahela Jayawardene helping the Tuskers to an eight-wicket win. (BCCI)
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140 (101) vs Kenya 1999 World Cup Bristol May 23, 1999 - Kenya may have been minnows but this innings is remembered for the personal circumstances that Tendulkar battled on his way to an unbeaten 140 in 101 balls. Tendulkar's father had passed away and he returned to India for the funeral. However, he then returned to England for the game against Kenya, later stating that it is what his father would have wanted him to do. There were tears in the great man's eyes as he raised his bat when he reached the century. India won the match by 94 runs. (Getty Images)
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