Sachin Tendulkar a name which will live through centuries because of his master class performance in the sport of cricket. The living legend of the game is a brand ambassador of cricket, and to the crazy cricket fanatics a demigod. From having all cricket records to his name to getting his wax statue installed for fans to cheers at the Madame Tussauds the maestro’s persona is grand and world illustrious.
Sachin has many nick names from lovingly called Tendlya, to respected as God of Cricket; to lovingly call as the Little Champion he achieved all height of greatness. Legendary Sir Don Bradman saw himself in Sachin and also included him in his Bradman’s XI, to having highest hundreds in both format of cricket, to highest number of runs; he has achieved all records hardly one missed. Oh! One is yet too achieved; yes the record of 100 hundred in cricket is yet to set against his name. Sachin has 99 centuries in both format of the game to his name and if he achieves it against West Indies ones again, he will be immortalize in the history of cricket under the title Sachin Tendulkar 100 centuries.
Let’s stroll down the lane to capture Sachin Tendulkar’s Classic & Memorable Centuries before he becomes the first man to achieve the feat of 100 100’s in cricket……..
114 Versus Australia at Perth (India Tour of Australia – 1992)
Perth famed or feared as you would like to call has been the invincible fortress of Australian Cricket Team. During the India Tour of Australia – 1992 the team under the captaincy of legend Kapil Dev has lost the previous 3 matches and came to Perth to add more to the humiliation. But what happened next will be told for years to come by critics, cricket fans, and experts. In Ian Chappell’s word “to expect Tendulkar to bat the same fearless way as he did in Perth all those years ago is to undertake an exercise in futility.”
The youthful Sachin came to bat when the pace attack has already wrecked havoc with Indian batsmen and most of them were departing for single digit score. But with quick reflexes, sheer courage, and master class stroke play Sachin Tendulkar along with Kiran More launched a counter attack to take India from 149 for 8 to 240 when Sachin was finally out for 114 runs. Though India lost the match by 300 runs but it’s the finest 100 that he scored and will always be ranked Sachin century no. 1 out of his 99* centuries.
169 Versus South Africa at Cape Town (India Tour of South Africa – 1996 / 97)
South Africa are equal to ruthless devils at their own backyards powered with pacy, bouncy, seaming, and green wickets conditions. India never had a good record against South Africa in South Africa. After India’s disaster of 100 and 66 per innings score to get defeated by 328 runs the Cape Town 529 for 7 declared South African Innings look like a repentance of Durban catastrophe.
However from 55 for 5 India with the classy batting of Sachin found themselves at 359 runs with Sachin scoring 169 runs of 254 balls. It has found the second rank in our books as the quality of bowling combined with the hostile batting conditions his heroic century will be remember forever even if India lost by 282 runs.
143 Versus Australia at Sharjah (Coca Cola Cup – 1998)
Coca Cola Cup98 saw a dramatic turnaround as India from bottom of the table behind Australia and New Zealand fought back to win the championship. The dream came true for none other than Sachin’s back to back centuries against Australia. But the century that was made on losing cause but helped India challenge Australia for Championship found 3rd rank in our diary.
With Aussies 280 – 7 the Indian’s need 237 runs from 46 over to qualify on superior run rate beating the Kiwis. But 237 seems impossible with India trembling at 139 – 4 after 29 over. But the last hope on Sachin was not let down by the master blaster as he fired all guns with flurry of fours and sixes of Michael Kasprowicz, Damien Fleming, and Shane Warne. Ones he was ensured that India qualified he was out but it was the trailer of the Coca Cola Cup Final where India won by 6 wickets.
136 Versus Pakistan at Chennai (Pakistan Tour of India – 1999)
The arch – rivals meet after years at the ground of Chennai for the mother of all battle. By the first day end India were at the driver seat with Pakistan bowled out for 238 runs. But due to reversal of fate India were set a target of 271 runs by Pakistan. India were down to 82 – 5 but Indians did not give away hope with Sachin still around. With back spasms, muscle pulling, immense pressure, playing on the 5th day wicket turning under the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq and Shahid Afridi justifies Tendulkar’s great aura.
Almost like a gladiator he turned the game single handed as soon India were 250 – 6 but sadly the last 3 batsmen after Sachin was out could add only 4 runs to the score as India lost the match by 12 runs. But the loss could not take the appreciation, applause, and admiration of the legend.
200* Versus South Africa at Gwalior (South Africa Tour of India – 2010)
One Day Record of highest run was 194 scored by Saeed Anwar against India at 1999 tour. But the record was only made to be broken by Sachin Tendulkar after 11 years at Gwalior against South Africa. The feat also made him the only batsmen to score 200* runs in a one day international. The century would be more memorable because India won the match by 153 runs and the double ton was scored against the likes of likes of worlds best pace attack of Dale Steyn, Jacques Kallis, Wayne Parnell and Charl Langeveldt.
The cricketing world speculated from years who will be the first to score 200 in a one day. Sachin surprised as he was never expected against the favorites of Virender Sehwag, Adam Gilchrist, Chris Gayle and Shahid Afridi.
That’s Sachin first 5 best hundred from our book of best centuries to tribute the on verge of completing legendary Sachin Tendulkar 100 international centuries.
