Top 10 Best Batting Instances of Sachin Tendulkar

Nobody has ever considered—or even would care to consider—what would happen after that, at least not while the maestro is still playing. Sachin Tendulkar has participated in 198 Tests, 463 ODIs and one T20 match. Most of those are memorable innings, with silk flowing off his bat and spectators’ throats getting sore. It’s nearly impossible to choose the top ten from among those, but we did our best.

200* V South Africa, Gwalior, 2010

After dominating ODIs for so long, Sachin Tendulkar simply had to break this record.

Saeed Anwar’s 194, Charles Coventry’s unbeaten 194, and Viv Richards’ 189 all held records.

But almost 40 years after the first ODI match, probably the greatest ODI batsman of all time, achieved the format’s first double-century.

Like other innings by Tendulkar, this one began with sharp drives but was hampered by cramping because to the heat and humidity. Even though Virrendar Sehwag left the game early, India collected 401 runs against the formidable South Africans because to Tendulkar, who used up nearly half of the innings’ deliveries and smashed 25 boundaries and three sixes.

98 V Pakistan, Centurion, 2003

Saeed Anwar had scored a century earlier in the day, helping Pakistan in this World Cup encounter to a respectable 273 runs.

The challenge seemed challenging for India with Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar in the squad. However, Tendulkar wasted little time in reducing that assault to size, hammering Akhtar in the second over of the innings for a six and two fours.

Tendulkar continued to score runs despite Younis managing two wickets in two deliveries. Although he missed his century by just two runs, the outcome was all but decided by the time he was dismissed.

241 V Australia, Sydney, 2004

Since this was Steve Waugh’s final Test, the Australian captain had to go with a tied series thanks to Tendulkar’s 241. Tendulkar’s performance wasn’t great, and the series wasn’t even close to being his greatest. Tendulkar entered the batting order for India at 128 for two and remained there till the tourists announced their innings at 705 for seven.

Although it wasn’t his finest performance, it did help India tie the series. When he and VVS Laxman shared 353 runs for the fourth wicket, 28 of his 33 fours and 188 of his runs were on the leg side.

146 V South Africa, Cape Town, 2010-11

In their opening innings, India was in trouble at 28 for two after South Africa scored 362 in Cape Town.

Dale Steyn was resolute that he would not permit the tourists to achieve their goal of winning their first series in the nation.

The match-saving hopes of India were kept alive thanks to Tendulkar’s 314-ball vigil, which not only allowed India grab a slim two-run lead but also remained outside his crease and defied the blazing spells.

103* V England, Chennai, 2008-09

Tendulkar holds every significant batting record, with the possible exception of a century in the fourth inning of an Indian victory.

India was left to chase 387 on a deteriorating pitch after struggling in the first innings of the Chennai Test against the spin of Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar.

Virender Sehwag supplied the blazing start that got England off to a bad start, and Yuvraj Singh added the finishing touches. However, in the middle Tendulkar cultivated the chase, barely ever showing signs of stress, scurrying through for singles like a teenager, and occasionally breaking rules with strange limits.

117* V Australia, Sydney, 2007-08

Tendulkar had a few unfinished business before Sydney hosted the CB Series’ first final: an ODI century in Australia, a century in 37 innings, a chase-winning century since 2001, and a century in any chase since March 2004.

In the 120 deliveries he faced in the middle, he neatly and easily checked all those boxes as India easily outscored the 239 runs the hosts had scored.

At 87 for three, India was in trouble, but Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma worked well together to get the first run of the championship match.

136 V Pakistan, Chennai, 1998-99

A victory against India was on the line, but Tendulkar was also having the game of his life. Heroics were displayed, but they would come to a devastating end when Pakistan defeated India despite being on target for 271 runs.

Tendulkar rebuilt the innings after being reduced to 82 for five with the help of Nayan Mongia, but as time went on and he ran out of partners and his back began to give out, the task grew more and more difficult.

Tendulkar saw this and began to hit boundaries, but the shrewd Saqlain Mushtaq, who was approaching from behind the wicket, caused a mistaken stroke, resulting in the lofted drive being caught at mid-off.

117 V West Indies, Port of Spain, 2002

Tendulkar hadn’t scored a century in the West Indies despite it being ten years since his Test debut.

In 2002, he eventually came through and helped India earn just their third victory in the West Indies. Tendulkar’s performance was described as “a resolute rather than commanding innings; Dravid seemed the more forceful in a partnership of 124” by Wisden Almanack in its report.

India won the Test by 37 runs after amassing a 94-run first-innings lead. Although Tendulkar would have been the happiest after ending his century wait in the Caribbean, VVS Laxman was named man of the match.

194* V Pakistan, Multan, 2004

In Multan, Sehwag’s magnificent 309 gave India a commanding innings victory, but Tendulkar’s exquisite, unbeaten 194 dashed any chances the local team had of regaining prestige from the scraps.

The Pakistani attack, which also included Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, and Saqlain Mushtaq, was completely destroyed by the two. Despite cameo appearances from the majority of their batsmen, Pakistan spent over 161 overs in the field and gave up 675 runs, unable to match India’s effort.

The Little Master was on top of his game with the bat despite Tendulkar working his magic with the ball as well, scoring two runs in the first innings while remaining unruffled and unconcerned by spin and pace.

119* V England, Old Trafford, 1990

India responded with 432 after England amassed 519 on a forgiving surface. India found themselves in serious trouble at 127 for five with only one recognized batsman left, despite the surface still being decent and the bowling not being particularly frightening. The hosts had increased their lead to 407 runs.

Tendulkar, who was only 17 years old, fought valiantly for almost four hours while never becoming gloomy, and he finished the day with 119. India finished with 343 wickets, losing only one more. They might even have won if they had one more session.

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