Showing posts with label sachin tendulkar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sachin tendulkar. Show all posts

Sachin Inaugurates Cricket Museum in Pune

1 comment: Labels: , , , , , , , ,
Sachin was inaugrated cricket museum in pune to display personal belongings of legendary cricketers from around the world, including the late Sir Donald Bradman
Sachin's press meet during cricket museum inaugration in Pune
The museum, set up in the Sahakar Nagar area of the city by a private collector Rohan Pate, is the first of its kind in the city.



Lauding Pate's efforts, Tendulkar said it would offer cricket lovers an opportunity to see things associated with the greats in the game.


courtsy : ndtv
Read More

Sachin relinquishes MI captaincy to Bhajji

No comments: Labels: , , , , , , ,
Sachin Tendulkar in discussion with the management of Mumbai Indians has decided to hand over the responsibilities of captaining Mumbai Indians in Season 2012 of the Indian Premier League to ace off spinner Harbhajan Singh.
Sachin Tendulkar hands over Mumbai Indians Captaincy to Harbhajan Singh
Commenting on the decision, Sachin Tendulkar said, “The Mumbai Indians is more than a team. It is like a family to me. At this point of time, I feel I need a break from the responsibility of captaincy of the Mumbai Indians. After due consideration, I discussed my intention to hand over the Captainship of the team to Harbhajan Singh, with Mukeshbhai and Nitabhabhi. I was touched by the graciousness and wholehearted support they offered me while emphasising that they would accept any decision which helps me to continue enjoying the game. Harbhajan will have my wholehearted support as the senior most player in the team. ”


Nita Ambani of Mumbai Indians said, “It was a very difficult moment when Sachin expressed his desire to relinquish the captaincy. But we believe that Sachin is the best judge on such matters and hence, as always, we fully support his decision. I have learnt a lot during the last three seasons working with Sachin closely. Sachin is the soul of Mumbai Indians, and I am sure he will guide Bhajii as he takes on the responsibility of captaining Mumbai Indians.”


The newly appointed captain of Mumbai Indians, Harbhajan Singh said, “Sachin Paaji spoke to me about his decision to of wanting me to take over the responsibility of the team. It is huge honour and I thank Paaji and Nita Bhabhi for the faith reposed in my abilities. Mumbai Indians is a great team with explosive talent and promising youngsters. I am committed to do the very best and look forward to leading the team to play to its full potential during the season.” 


Mumbai Indians plays its first match of Season 2012 on April 4, 2012 in Chennai.
Read More

Happy New Year Wishes

No comments: Labels: , , , , ,
New year is the time to forget every bad memory of the past year and start your life afresh. So, get up and hug a friend with whom you had a fight lately, get up and hug you parents and promise them you will not hurt them anymore, give a self hug and promise to yourself that come what may you would remain truthful to yourself, hug a poor kid and tell her that she is not alone, Help the needy and abolish the greedy from your life. 




So, just forget all your grudges and send these wonderful new year wishes to your loved ones. Cheers to 2012!!


Read More

Tour to Australia, A Feat for Sachin Tendulkar

Labels: , , , , , ,

Sachin Tendulkar will embark on his fifth Test tour of Australia today, something that not many would have imagined four years ago. Remember the rousing ovation he got at the Adelaide Oval in 2008, the crowd presuming it was his last Test on Australian soil. 


Renowned writer Mike Coward even penned a sentimental piece on his potential farewell. "It is only right that Sachin Tendulkar should play his last Test match in Australia at Adelaide Oval for he has a very special affinity with this city of churches and Chappells and festivals. 


"For this was Don Bradman's hometown for 66 years and in 1998 India's little master came here especially to pay homage to the game's greatest batsman on his 90th birthday. "He will be 35 on April 24 (2008) and India is not scheduled to return here for Test matches before 2011-12," he wrote prior to the Adelaide Test. And yet Tendulkar returns to his beloved country for a fifth time, the first Indian to do so. 
Romance begins...


Ever since his first tour Down Under as an 18-year-old, Tendulkar has left Australians smitten with his strokeplay. The love affair began when he became the youngest to score a Test century in Australia on his first tour -- an unbeaten 148 at Sydney. After his exquisite Perth ton later on that tour, Merv Hughes cracked open a beer, turned to his captain, Allan Border and said: "This little prick's going to get more runs than you, AB." Border had 9,532 Test runs at the time -- the second highest in the history of the game after Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar. Hughes was on the button.


"I was there to witness those hundreds at Sydney and Perth in 1991-92. I was amazed how he adapted to those conditions so quickly, considering his age. The Perth hundred is still the best I've ever seen. There was prolonged bounce after the third day - a lot of cracks on the wicket. You could literally put a finger inside the crack. When the seam landed on the crack, the ball went wherever it pleased.


It was difficult to anticipate anything. This teenager walked in and showed everyone how to bat," said Dilip Vengsarkar, who previously held the Indian record for four Australia tours (1977-78, 1980-81, 1985-86 and 1991-1992). Vengsarkar was also part of the Indian team that won the 1985 World Championship of Cricket in Australia.


"He's done well everywhere in the world. But there's something about Australia. He likes the ball coming on to the bat. He enjoys those conditions like anything," he added.


'The Best' in Oz


Indeed, he does. In 16 Tests there, he has 1,522 runs at 58.53. Even Sir Vivian Richards (47.56), Brian Lara (41.97) and David Gower (44.48), who played a lot more Tests in Australia, didn't match Tendulkar's feats. In fact, Wally Hammond, Herbert Sutcliffe and VVS Laxman are the only visiting batsmen besides Tendulkar to average in excess of 50 in Australia (minimum qualification: 1,000 Test runs).


In his autobiography 'Standing My Ground', Matthew Hayden wrote that Australians were so much in love with Tendulkar that a special version of his 1998 blade was manufactured at a Brisbane factory. Irrefutably, Tendulkar is an icon in Australia.


In 2003-04, Tendulkar went through the leanest patch of his career. But the double century at SCG that summer was his way to reaffirm his love for Australia, a knock that many felt redeemed his career. "Tendulkar was having a quiet series, with just one 50. Before the Sydney Test, we talked about his batting, which didn't happen very often as he knew his own game inside out.


In Sydney, he decided he was going to keep it very tight; he wouldn't play through cover or square off the front foot because that was where he'd been getting out. Having formulated a plan, he went out and executed it, making 241 not out, his highest Test score (at the time), of which only 53 came on the off side. The word gets done to death, but this was an awesome display of technique and discipline. A month later his wife Anjali (Tendulkar's wife), who'd listen in our conversation, got in touch to say thanks for the chat in Sydney," former India coach John Wright wrote in 'Indian Summers'.


The Tendulkar-Australian love affair reached its pinnacle on the last tour. The boy was too young in 1992 and in 2008 doubts lingered that the man may be too old; it didn't matter to the man and like the boy he also reached Perth having made runs in Sydney -- this time a 154 not out. Tendulkar made an audacious 71 before falling to an unlucky lbw decision. He finished with 493 runs at 70.42; his best ever return from any series.


Help from a friend


Tendulkar had sought help from former India fast bowler Subroto Banerjee on that tour. "He was always a good friend, even before he started playing international cricket. I was playing club cricket in Australia at the time.
He called me and said, 'why don't you join us at the nets and help me out'.


I obliged immediately. I ended up travelling with the team for the entire Test series. The original plan was just to visit him in the nets once. "I did not regret travelling with the team as he played some of his best knocks on that tour.  If he calls me again, I will be glad to help him out," Banerjee told MiD DAY.


Six appeal


The below players have made six Test trips to Australia


Johnny Briggs (England)
1884-85, 1886-87, 1887-88, 1891-92, 1894-95, 1897-98
Total: 21 Tests


Colin Cowdrey (England)
1954-55, 1958-59, 1962-63, 1965-66, 1970-71, 1974-75
Total: 27 Tests


Bob Willis (England)
1970-71, 1974-75, 1976-77, 1978-79, 1979-80, 1982-83
Total: 24 Tests


Daniel Vettori (NZ)
1997-98, 2001-02, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2011-12
Total: 12 Tests
Read More

Tendulkar to miss last two ODIs against WI

Labels: , , ,

New Delhi, Dec 5: Selectors have decided to rest master blaster for the last two one dayers against West Indies at Indore and Chennai and also stated that Sachin Tendulkar will leave early for Australia Tour.
Sachin Tendulkar had earlier expressed his desire to play the last two ODIs against West Indies but due to the recent development, Sachin fans' wait continues as they have to wait for the Australian tour to commence to see their favorite star in action.

Meanwhile, Kris-Srikkanth led selection committee will be announcing Praveen Kumar's replacement for Australia tour on Monday.
Read More

Tendulkar might play last two ODIs of West Indies series

Labels: , , ,

His 100th international century eagerly awaited across the nation, veteran Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar is likely to play the last two one-dayers against the West Indies. 


Tendulkar, who failed to reach the milestone despite coming close at least twice during the Test series, might be selected for the last two matches of the ongoing ODI series when national selectors meet on Monday. 
India leads the five-match rubber 2-0 with the third ODI scheduled on Monday. 


Tendulkar had been rested from the squad for the first three matches but sources say the 38-year-old wants to play the remaining two matches of the series scheduled on December 8 and 11 in Indore and Chennai respectively. 


The Kris Srikkanth-led selection panel will meet on Monday to pick the squad for the remainder of the series besides injured pacer Praveen Kumar's replacement for the upcoming four Tests against Australia. 


Tendulkar's last international century came on March 12 during a World Cup group league match against South Africa at Nagpur. 


It has been more than eight months that the entire nation has been waiting with bated breath for the elusive century. 


The last missed opportunity came in the third Test against Caribbeans when Tendulkar was dismissed six runs short of the milestone.
Read More

Sportsperson of the Year 2011: Sachin Tendulkar

Labels: , , ,



Is there any surprise here? Sachin might well be the sportsperson of the decade, if not the last two decades and indeed, for a better part of this millennium for India. As compatriot and starry-eyed fellow player Virat Kohli put it, for the better part of 20 years, Sachin has carried the burden of a nation's expectation on his shoulders alone.




For having inspired a nation to put aside its religious, linguistic and other like divides aside every time he picks up the willow and takes centrestage on the cricket ground, Sachin Tendulkar, teen prodigy turned the player who defines the 'gentleman' part of the gentleman's game, is this year's sportsperson of the year, his elusive 100th ton aside.
Read More

World Champions 2011

Labels: , , , , , , ,


















Read More

Sachin Tendulkar Memorable Moments In ODI Career

Labels: , , , ,

1] 27th March 1994, India vs New Zealand, Eden Park Auckland: It was the first time Sachin opened the innings in ODI's. Opener Navjot Singh Sidhu got injured and although India were chasing a small victory target of 146 no batsman was willing to open on a seaming Eden Park wicket. But Sachin took the responsibility of opening the innings. And what a happy accident it turned out to be as he smashed 82 off 43 balls. Describing this knock Sachin said “Such innings's are possible only once in a life time. It was like a dream.”


2] 15th April, 1996: India vs Pakistan, Sharjah Pakistan have always had an edge over their arch rivals at the desert venue and 1996 was no different. India had lost both their games one to Pakistan and the other to South Africa. In a must win game Sachin Tendulkar displayed guts and determination in plenty and smashed a brilliant hundred. He shared a wonderful second wicket partnership of 232 runs along with Navjot Sidhu and helped India to a total of 305. Incidentally, it was the first time that India scored in excess of 300 runs in a one day match.


3] 22nd April 1998: India vs Australia (”Sandstorm innings”), Sharjah “The best innings he has ever played” is how commentator Ravi Shastri described Sachin's performance on that eventful, emotionally draining and nerve jangling day at Sharjah. India were playing Australia who after batting first put up a massive 283 runs putting the Indians under pressure. India needed to win the match to qualify for the finals of the Coca Cola Cup or end up 30 runs short of the Australian score in order to get a back door entry into the finals and pip the Kiwis. After losing four quick wickets a struggling VVS Laxman came in to join Sachin and the Indians seemed to be staring defeat in the face, needing more than a run a ball in the remaining 20 odd overs. As if things were not bad enough then a massive sandstorm came in from no where and interrupted the game for about half an hour. The target was readjusted and India needed to get 237 in 46 overs and the asking rate became more steep - thi s innings Sachin assured Indian team coach Anshuman Gaekwad by saying, “Don't worry, I'll be there till the end.” Such was his confidence and determination. He smashed the first ball off Michael Kasprowicz for a six and then almost like a man posessed made 143, taking India into the finals of the Coca-Cola Cup. India lost the match by 20 odd runs but that superb knock helped India have one more crack at the Aussies in the finals on Sachin Tendulkar's birthday.


4] Fi nals of the Coca Cola Trophy, Sharjah: The crowds at the Sharjah, had come with banners wishing Sachin a happy 25th birthday along with their intense desire to see him play another one of those blinders and take India to victory. Sachin didn't disappoint them. Australia had put up a huge target of 273 and that meant India had quite a chase on their hands. Before the Indian innings began noted Australian commentator Greg Chappell made a telling comment. He said, “Sachin will be feeling just a little bit drained from his previous effort and the weight of the entire Indian population will be on his young shoulders.” He was right but Sachin went about his task with clinical precision and made 134. He unleashed some of his breathtaking strokes and power only after he had ensured that India were well on the road to victory. After depositing Aussie paceman Michael Kasprowicz on to the roof of the Sharjah stadium, noted TV commentator Tony Greig said, “This little man is the nearest thing to Bradman there's ever been.” Sachin ended up sweeping almost all the awards after India emerged victorious. He also won an Opel Astra for his efforts at Sharjah an award which he dedicated to his wife, on his 25th birthday.
5] 29th May, 1999 India vs Kenya (”This one's for you dad”), India vs Kenya, Bristol: Sachin Tendulkar's 140 not out in the match against Kenya said a lot about the temperament that the litle champion possesses. India were under pressure to win the match to stay in contention as they had lost their previous two games to South Africa and Zimbabwe. Sachin had not taken part in the match against Zimbabwe as he had to return to India because of the rather unfortunate death of his father. However he made it a point to return to England for the World Cup. His hundred against Kenya is still talked about as one of the great knocks of all time simply because of all the pressures (most of them non-cricketing) he was under.


6] 31st March, 2000 India vs Australia, Indore: (Sachin's creates history by becoming the first batsman in the history of limited overs cricket to score 10,000 runs.) Sachin came into the third one day international at Indore after he had slammed a rapid fire 35 and 32 in his previous two knocks at Bangalore and Pune respectively. He was rather unfairly criticised by some sections of the media who thought he batted irresponsibly. However the moment he walked in to bat at Indore one could see the determination on his face and one could almost anticipate a hundred from the Bombay Bomber. Sachin did not disappoint and he pulverised the Aussie bowlers and hammered his 28th one day hundred. Sachin's inns of 139 off just 125 deliveries can easily be rated as one of his best one day inns as he was at his innovative best and he often played strokes that were cheeky to say the least. During his inns he also achieved the distinction of becoming the first player to reach the landmark of 10,000 runs in one day internationals. It was indeed a fine treble for Sachin as he reached 10,000 runs, slammed his 28th ton and he also helped India post a comprehensive win to take a 2-1 lead in the 5 match series. He rightly won the man of the match award for his stunning exploits.


7] 2002 Zimbabwe suffer in Nagpur as Tendulkar hits 23 fours in his 176 and India go on to win by an innings and 101 runs. Tendulkar hits his 29th century to equal Bradman, with West Indies the team to suffer. He reaches 113 not out at the end of the first day in the second Test. He then surpasses The Don's record with a sublime 193 in the third Test against England at Headingley. Tendulkar is now only four centuries short of Sunil Gavaskar's record.


8] Feb 24, 2010,Milestone man Sachin Tendulkar re-wrote the record books on Wednesday, hammering the first double century in the history of one-day cricket against South Africa, to add another feather to his well-adorned cap.

Read More

Sachin Tendulkar "The Cricket God"

1 comment: Labels: , , , , ,

Sachin Tendulkar - The most complete batsman of his time, and arguably the biggest cricket icon as well, Sachin Tendulkar batting is based on the purest principles: economy of movement, perfect balance, anticipation and precision in stroke-making.


There are no apparent weaknesses in Tendulkar's game. He can score all around the wicket, temper his game, can tune his technique and has made runs in all parts of the world in all conditions.


Most appearances in ODI's, most ODI hundreds, most test hundreds, most international hundreds, most runs in test and one day cricket history, most runs in a calendar year, most runs in any world cup, the pages of record books would prove to be insufficient to record the achievements of this cricketing Maestro. Sachin Records are the one's made to be beaten by Sachin only now! :).
Read More

Sachin Tendulkar's Proudest Moment

No comments: Labels: , , , , ,

Sachin Tendulkar said 2011 World Cup triumph was the proudest moment of his life as India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets to capture the "ultimate" prize. "I couldn't have asked for more," said Tendulkar".

"Winning the World Cup is the ultimate thing. It is the proudest moment of my life. It shows it is never too late.

I thank my teammates who were fabulous. I could not really hold back my tears. These are happy tears so I don't mind crying."

Virat Kohli said the victory was a fitting tribute to Tendulkar. "This goes out to all the people of India. Tendulkar has carried the burden of the nation for 21 years. It was time we carried him."

Gautam Gambhir, who played a key role with the bat in making 97 off 122 balls, said the win was a gift to his great teammate Sachin Tendulkar from the entire squad. "All credit for this win should go to Tendulkar. We were all playing for him, this trophy is for him."

Little Tendulkar, on his part, thanked each of his team-mates and the support staff including polar explorer Mike Horn. I would like to thank the support staff especially Mike Horn who joined us at the start of the tournament and was there for our last couple of games" He worked on the mental side and has helped us deal with the expectations and pressure.

The team stuck together in the rough phases and proved people wrong who doubted our ability. Self-belief has been always there but in the last two years, we have been very consistent.

"It's been great honour to be part of this team. Thanks to (coach) Gary (Kirsten) and Paddy Upton (mental conditioning expert)." ( Source - CricBuzz)

Read More

Sachin Hits 15,000 Test Runs

No comments: Labels: , , , ,

Sachin Tendulkar, the first and the only player in Test Cricket history to score fifty centuries, and the first to score fifty centuries in all international cricket combined has reached the target that he’d set for himself in 2009; scoring 15, 000 runs in Test cricket. In an interview with the Wisden Cricketer he had said, “I am not pleased yet with what I have done. Sunil Gavaskar has told me that I have to get to 15,000 runs. He said he would be angry with me and would come and catch me if I didn’t. I admire him so much and to score that many would be a terrific achievement, but that is not the only aim.”


Sachin Tendulkar gets to his 15,000th Test run. 
He scored 15, 000 runs while playing against West Indies at the Feroz Shah kotla grounds in New Delhi. Sachin is the first player to reach 12,000-13,000-14,000 Test runs, and now the highest test run scorer in the history of test cricket. He scored 15,000 runs in 300 test innings at an average run rate of 56.18 runs per over.


Playing in his 182nd match, Tendulkar reached the mark on the third day of the first cricket Test against the West Indies when he scored his 28th run in India’s second innings with a single off leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo.


After crossing the coveted milestone, the batting maestro looked up at the heavens and acknowledged the standing ovation given by his teammates from the dressing room as his partner Rahul Dravid congratulated him. The West Indian players also came up after the completion of the over to congratulate the iconic batsman.


Tendulkar was 35 runs short of 15,000 before this match and he scored seven in the first innings before being adjidged leg-before off Fidel Edwards.


India is playing against West Indies in a tense game and will need to bat well to gain an edge over West Indies when India takes the field on Day 4.
Read More

Flawless Tendulkar 200

No comments: Labels: , , , ,

SR Tendulkar  not out  200 from 147 25(4) 3(6) 136.05


It took nearly 40 years of waiting and it was well worth it. Sachin Tendulkar chose one of the better bowling attacks doing the rounds, to eclipse the record for the highest score, before bringing up the first double-hundred in ODI history. The spectators at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium became the envy of cricket fans as they witnessed one of the country's favourite sporting heroes play a breathtaking innings which not only set up a 153-run annihilation but also the series victory. He may have been run-out cheaply in the previous match, but nothing could deny him today - be it bowlers, fielders, mix-ups or cramps. Dinesh Karthik, Yusuf Pathan and MS Dhoni stood by and admired as the master unfurled all the shots in his repertoire.

At 36, Tendulkar hasn't shown signs of ageing, and his sparkling touch in both forms of the game has ruled out all possibilities of him checking out anytime soon. Fatigue, cramps and paucity of time have stood in the way of batsmen going that extra mile to get to the 200-mark. Tendulkar did cramp up after crossing 150, but he didn't opt for a runner. His experience of 20 years at the international level came into play in this historic innings, staying at the crease from the first ball to the last, never once losing focus. There were no chances offered, no dropped catches, making his innings absolutely flawless.

A swirl of emotions must have run through his mind as he approached one record after another but he ensured he was never lost in the moment. His running between the wickets remained just as swift as it had been at the start of the innings. The humidity in Gwalior was bound to test him but he stood above it all and played like he owned the game, toying with the bowling with a mix of nonchalance and brute power.

In the 46th over, with a flick for two past short fine-leg, Tendulkar broke the record for the highest ODI score, going past the 194 made by Zimbabwe's Charles Coventry and Pakistan's Saeed Anwar, and to say that he acknowledged his feat modestly would be an understatement. His muted celebration on going past 194, true to style, made his innings all the more endearing. He didn't raise his bat, merely shook hands with Mark Boucher and simply carried on batting amid the din. Coming from a man who is not known to showing too much emotion with the bat in hand, it wasn't surprising. He reserved his celebrations for the magic figure of 200, which he reached in the final over with a squirt off Charl Langeveldt past backward point. He raised his bat, took off his helmet and looked up at the skies and it was only fitting that one-day cricket's highest run-getter reached the landmark.

Tendulkar's innings featured strokes of the highest quality, but his true genius was exemplified by one particular shot which rendered even the best bowler in the world helpless. In the first over of the batting Powerplay - taken in the 35th over - Dale Steyn fired it in the block-hole for three deliveries outside off to keep him quiet. Tendulkar, feeling the need to improvise, walked right across his stumps and nonchalantly flicked him across the line, hopping in his crease on one leg to bisect the gap at midwicket. A helpless Steyn watched the ball speed away and merely shrugged his shoulders. There was no use searching for excuses or venting frustrations at the temerity of that shot. It was just that kind of afternoon for the bowlers.

It wasn't all just about the cheekiness of his shots. His timing and placement were the hallmarks at the start of his innings. On a road of a pitch which offered no margin of error for the bowlers, he squeezed out full deliveries past the covers and off his pads. With no seam movement on offer, Jacques Kallis took the slips off and placed them in catching positions within the 15-yard circle, hoping to induce a mistake. But Tendulkar outplayed all of them, making room to manoeuver it past a number of green shirts. There were a minimum of two runs on offer each time the ball was placed wide of them and the quick outfield did the rest.

Once he got his eye in, the short boundaries and the flat pitch were too inviting. Virender Sehwag's dismissal for 11, caught at third man, was just an aberration as Karthik, Pathan and Dhoni traded cricket bats for golf clubs. Driving and lofting through the line had never been this easy. Tendulkar could have driven them inside out in his sleep.

The two century stands, with Karthik and then with Dhoni, may well get lost in the scorecard but they were vital building blocks. Karthik rotated the strike well in their stand of 194, struck three clean sixes and helped himself to his career-best performance. That partnership sent out ominous signs to the South Africans that they were in for something massive. Add Dhoni's bludgeoning hits and scoops and you had a score in excess of 400.

Tendulkar reached his fifty off 37 balls and his century off 90. Ironically, he struck his first six - over long-on - when on 111. Pathan bashed it around at the other end, clubbing full tosses and short deliveries in his 23-ball 36, as India amassed 63 runs in the batting Powerplay. The South African seamers made the mistake of trying to bowl too fast and as a result, sent down too many full tosses and full deliveries. The unplayable yorkers remained elusive and Tendulkar, who was seeing it like a beach ball, picked the gaps, made room and improvised.

He reached his 150 by making room to Parnell and chipping him over midwicket with a simple bat twirl at the point of contact. The heartbreak of Hyderabad, when his scintillating 175 all but won India the match against Australia last year, must have lingered in his mind as he approached that score again. A towering six over long-on later, he not only eclipsed Kapil Dev's 175 but also looked set to wipe out his own record. He started clutching his thighs, indicating that cramps had set in, but even that could not stop him today.

He equalled his highest score of 186 by pulling a lollipop of a full toss off Kallis and broke his own and India's record with a single to square leg. Fortunately, he didn't have to do much running and played the spectator's role for a change as Dhoni bulldozed his way to a 35-ball 68, muscling four sixes. 

The Dhoni bottom-hand is the strongest in the business these days and the exhausted spectators had enough energy left in their vocal chords to cheer him on as well.

The record of 200, however, was yet to be attained and the crowd were desperate for Tendulkar to get the strike. Dhoni tore into Steyn for 17 off the 49th over and retained the strike for the 50th. After hammering the first ball of the 50th for six, he shoveled a full toss to deep midwicket where Hashim Amla made a brilliant save. Tendulkar settled for a single and the crowd were on their feet as they watched him make history. 

It was all the more fitting for another reason because it was on this very day, back in 1988, that he and Vinod Kambli added a mammoth 664 - then a world record - in a school match.
Read More
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)