Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, the batting maestro, in his 463 matches long ODI career spanning over 24 years has played several memorable and match-winning innings. The run machine has 49 centuries and 96 half-centuries to his name, however some of these innings were just out of this world and were forever etched in cricket enthusiasts’ memories.
On This Day, Dec 18 in 1989, Sachin Tendulkar made his ODI debut and was out for a two-ball duck by Waqar Younis caught by Wasim Akram. The match was reduced to 16 overs. This remains the only event to involve all three Wasim, Waqar, and Sachin in any dismissal across formats in international cricket.
Sachin Tendulkar Masterclass ODI innings in chronological order
- 82 off 49 vs NZ 2nd ODI 1994
Birth of greatest ODI opener”Blessing in disguise “Sidhu was out due to neck strain. Team management asked Sachin to open the inning and what a decision it turned out to be. Chasing a modest total of 143 he smashed bowlers to all corners.
- 90 vs Australia 1996 WORLD CUP
This was the inning that depicts why was he way ahead of any other cricketer of his generation. Unbelievable batting an exhibition of class and brutality.
- 143 vs Australia Sharjah 1998
“They are dancing in the aisles in Sharjah.”Greig captures the mood during Sachin Tendulkar’s assault on Australia in the Desert Storm series in 1998 “Sandstorm Inning”.Spectators were eager to avoid an all-Antipodean final. India was required to score 254 to beat New Zealand on net run-rate and make their way to the final. After 29 overs India was struggling at 38 for 4, then dere was a sandstorm, and the target was revised although India lost the match, but achieved their main objective. one of the greatest ever ODI innings I have ever watched.
- 140* vs Kenya, 1999 World Cup in Bristol
A very inspirational innings from the fact that he had returned from his father’s funeral the day before the encounter.His first ton as a middle-order batsman. The unbeaten 237 stand was highest ever in ICC – International Cricket Council World Cup that time, going past Mark Waugh and Steve Waugh’s 207 runs against the same opponent at Vishakhapatnam. The unbeaten partnership record stood for 16 years, before Jean-Paul Duminy and David Miller heroic 256 against Zimbabwe Cricket in 2015 Hamilton Newzeland
- 98 vs Pakistan ICC World Cup 2003
Pakistan had one of the most potent attack ” testosterone shove pace attack”.He played as if he was playing against a club team. The most memorable was the uppercut he played against Akhtar.
- 141 vs Pakistan Rawalpindi 2004
Matching fire with fire. It was the first century by an Indian on Pakistani soil. Excellent field placement by Inzamam and a good catch in deep by Razzaq ended his majestic inning. Sami theatrically defeated last man Nehra to lead Pakistan’s victory.
“On a train from Shimla to Delhi, there was a halt at one of the stations. The train stopped by for a few minutes as usual. Sachin was nearing a century, batting on 98. The passengers, railway officials, everyone on the train waited for Sachin to complete the century. This genius can stop time in India!” Peter Roebuck on little master
- 93 vs South Africa Belfast 2007
At hostile bowling conditions, he redefined modern batting and silenced his critics. One of the great fightback a terrific inning.
- 117 vs Australia Sydney 2nd March 2008
This match was a story of immense contributions by two openers Hayden and Sachin. His first ODI ton in Australia “a vintage Tendulkar knock”
- 163* vs New Zealand Christchurch 8th March 2009
The little master played an belter of an inns smashing Kiwis bowler and was on the verge of breaking 200 run frontier. The muscle pull forced him to retire hurt but the inns guided India to an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three match series.
- 175 vs Australia Hyderabad 5th Nov 2009
Another heartbreaking end, Sharjah revisited. Nobody does solos better than Sachin Tendulkar, nor, perhaps, has anyone endured as much heartbreak during those solos(@Cricinfo). He has entertained one and all with a fabulous innings and taken India close but in the end, it was Chennai 1999. In Chennai India were required to score 17 runs with three wickets in hand ,in this match 19 of 17 balls again with 3 wickets in hand but in both the occasions lower order crumbled against pressure and India paid the price.The man single-handedly took India at the doorstep of victory.
- 200 vs South Africa Gwalior 2010
A barrier that had not been breached in 2961 one-day internationals finally fell in Gwalior. flicking Dale Steyn from outside the off stump just beauty, Steyn has no answer. The pitch map to Tendulkar tells how clueless South Africa’s bowlers were against him.
