MAY 23, 1999
In the name of the father: India had lost their previous two games to South Africa and Zimbabwe. They had to win against Kenya to stay alive in the 1999 World Cup. Tendulkar did not play against Zimbabwe as he had to return to India because of the unfortunate death of his father. With the team needing him, he put his personal tragedy behind and flew back to England. He arrived a day after his father's funeral to score an unbeaten 140 to steer India to an easy 94-run win on May 23. His first reaction on reaching the century was to look heavenwards in reverence to his 'Baba' . It would go on to become his signature mode for celebrating every milestone after that.
DECEMBER 15, 2008
For the victims of 26/11: After losing to India badly in the ODIs, England flew back home because of the terrorist attack on Mumbai on November 26, 2008. They returned to play the Test series later in December, only to lose the Chennai Test to Tendulkar's clinical 4th-innings ton at Chepauk. Chasing 386, India were three down for 183 when Tendulkar walked in. A short 41-run stand with VVS Laxman, followed by a massive 162-run partnership with Yuvraj Singh for the fifth wicket, gave India a six-wicket win. Tendulkar remained unbeaten on 103. He later dedicated the victory to the victims of the terror attack.
FEBRUARY 24, 2010
Breaking the double: The moment Saeed Anwar notched up 194 against India in an ODI in 1997, it was clear that a double-ton in the 50-over format was just around the corner. But it took 13 long years before somebody did it, and that was to be Tendulkar. On February 24, 2010, the cricket world zoomed in on Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, where India notched up 401-3 in the second ODI against South Africa. Tendulkar, at the forefront, smashed a rollicking unbeaten 200, first-ever in One-day cricket. Virender Sehwag repeated the feat in 2012 and bettered it, but it was the One batsman the first to reach that mark
JANUARY 4, 2004 & JANUARY 4, 2008
At home in Sydney: Tendulkar calls the Sydney Cricket Ground a home away from home. His effort of 241 in 2004 was a lesson in self-restraint. He had gone into the Tests with scores of 0, 1, 37, 0 and 44. He didn't hit a boundary on the off side, didn't hit a cover drive. He waited for the ball to come on to him, picked it off and clipped it to mid-wicket all the way to a double hundred. In 2008, Tendulkar had forgotten how an international hundred tastes like after getting out seven times in the 90s and his celebration lasted a little longer. His undefeated innings of 154 had driven India ahead in the Test.
DECEMBER 19, 2010
Half ton at Centurion: Tendulkar went into the 2010 series against South Africa needing one Test hundred to reach 50 centuries. Conditions at Centurion were loaded in favour of the bowlers but Tendulkar went on to make 111. The interesting bit about this ton was his bat, which had seen better days. It was Tendulkar's favourite piece of timber and it was revealed that he had made 12 international hundreds, including the ODI double with it.
APRIL 22, 1998
The desert storm in Sharjah: India stood to qualify for the final against Australia in the Coca-Cola Cup only if they bettered New Zealand's run-rate. The target was reduced from 285 in 50 overs to 276 in 46 because of a sand storm. India, though, needed 237 - even in case of a defeat - to oust the Kiwis. In walked Tendulkar, to play an innings (143) that is now etched in memories forever. Michael Kasprowicz, Shane Warne, Damien Fleming, Tom Moody and skipper Steve Waugh were left in shock as 9 fours and 5 sixes flew from Tendulkar's bat. He single-handedly saw India through but they lost the game. Two days later, he cracked 134 in the final against Oz as India won.
MARCH 1, 2003
Cuts Pakistan, Akhtar to size: In an electrifying atmosphere, Tendulkar left the Pakistanis shocked with an innings which he rates as one of his best. Pakistan had a lethal bowling attack in Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar and they had their tails up after their batsmen put up 274. Tendulkar not only battled the best bowling attack in business but braved cramps to score 98 off 75 deliveries. The upper cut off Akhtar that sailed over the ropes left the capacity crowd in raptures. The knock brought great joy to the country that had earlier reacted in anger after the team failed to get going in the initial stages.
NOVEMBER 24, 1993
A hero rises at the Eden: Kolkata's historic venue, the Eden Gardens, was packed to the rafters. South Africa needed six runs off the last over in the semifinal. Captain Mohammad Azharuddin didn't know who to throw the ball to even as coach Ajit Wadekar dispatched the 12th man with water and a message for Kapil to bowl. The great all-rounder however was a bit reluctant given that there was very little to defend. That is when Tendulkar did the impossible. He grabbed the ball from Azhar and pulled the choke on South Africa - a tradition which still continues.
OCTOBER 7, 2000
Take that, Pigeon: The ICC Champions Trophy in 2000 will always be remembered for that one big occasion when Tendulkar smashed the Aussies all over the park, including their pace spearhead Glenn McGrath. The match was billed as a battle between the two and the master batsman launched an assault on the 'Pigeon' right from the word go. McGrath has admitted it was the only time in his career that he gave Sachin a little sledge and the batsman proceeded to smash him all over the park. Tendulkar got 141 and India won the match.
FEBRUARY 25 & 26, 1998
Warne-ing to Australia: The series was built around Tendulkar vs Warne and it lived up to the hype with the master blaster taking on the legendary leg-spinner who was in his prime. Tendulkar, known to be a perfectionist, trained hard for the series. He asked former India leg-spinner L Sivaramakrishnan and Sairaj Bahutule to bowl in the rough outside the leg-stump , an area where Warne thrived. As it turned out, in the first match of the tour against Mumbai, Tendulkar hit a double hundred - his first ever in first-class cricket - and in the process sent Warne to the cleaners. The leg spinner conceded 111 runs in just 16 overs and that remained the theme for the series.
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