26 years ago today, just two days before the ‘Desert Storm’ innings, Sachin Tendulkar played another incredibly important innings. Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar turns 51 today. Revered as the ‘God of Cricket’, Tendulkar retired from the game 11 years ago, yet his impact and legacy continue to flourish.
In Short
Sachin Tendulkar’s remarkable innings
Adorned with accolades like the Bharat Ratna and known affectionately as the Master Blaster, Sachin Tendulkar’s genius still thrives. As wecelebrate Sachin’s birthday, let’s take a journey through one of his most remarkable innings, played exactly 26 years ago on his 25th birthday.
"𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙞𝙜 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙖 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙨𝙞𝙭. He is Half his Size and Smashed it down the ground.𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧"#HappyBirthdaySachin@sachin_rt #SachinTendulkar pic.twitter.com/l0TilfkVo9
— CrickeTendulkar 🇮🇳 (@CrickeTendulkar) April 24, 2024
1998 Coca-Cola Cup Trophy
During the 1998 Coca-Cola Cup Trophy, Sachin Tendulkar was in top form. In one of his finest innings, he scored 143 runs off 131 balls against Australia. Although his efforts weren’t enough to secure a win for his team due to the interruption of the Desert Storm, this innings is still considered one of Tendulkar’s best centuries. In the final of the same series, a few days later, Tendulkar found the perfect end to the story.
Thanks to Tendulkar’s sensational century in the historic showdown known as the Desert Storm, India succeeded in securing a spot in the final against Australia. Winning the toss, Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin opted to bat first. With a swift partnership between Australian captain Steve Waugh (70 runs off 71 balls) and Darren Lehmann (70 runs off 59 balls), Australia posted a total of 272/9 in 50 overs.
Tendulkar opened with Ganguly
On his birthday, Tendulkar walked out to bat with Sourav Ganguly. Starting off with a splendid partnership, he held his ground amidst the quick deliveries from the Australian bowlers.
In the fourth over of India’s innings, Tendulkar faced a close call when he narrowly avoided being stumped off a delivery by Australian fast bowler Michael Kasprowicz. Tendulkar’s resolve was strengthened by this experience, and he proceeded to give an incredible performance. Sachin Tendulkar helped his team win and secured the trophy with 134 runs off 131 balls, which included 12 fours and 3 sixes.
Sachin recalled match in Sharjah
Looking back, Tendulkar remembered feeling exhausted before the match and struggling with the heat of Sharjah. “I went in to bat in the evening. Mentally, I wasn’t there. I was trying to focus. I knew I needed to spend some time on the field, and the rhythm would come back to me,” he recalled.
The greatest ODI Inning Ever Vs Pak was played by Sachin Tendulkar 98(75) WC 2003.💪
— CrickeTendulkar 🇮🇳 (@CrickeTendulkar) April 24, 2024
This Knock has a Separate Fan Base.🐐 ##SachinTendulkar#HappyBirthdaySachin#HappyBirthdaySachinTendulkarpic.twitter.com/F9nPIn8AKB
“Confidence depends on where you’re hitting the ball on the bat, and I wasn’t hitting it in the middle. Then I waited for my turn – I hit Kasprowicz for two sixes, and things started to fall into place. We eventually won the tournament.”
Tendulkar’s farewell
In November 2013, Tendulkar bid farewell to his illustrious career with an astonishing 100 international centuries. Yes, the unforgettable 98 runs against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup, the unbeaten 214 runs in Sydney, and numerous other classics including his first double century in ODIs in 2010, hold a special place in the hearts of cricket fans. But the innings in Sharjah remains a gem in the crown of cricket history.
photos source : X
