- Sunday, May 05, 2024
The former India batter, who turned 51 on April 24, had slammed a match-winning century against the mighty Australians in the final of a tournament in the desert city.
By: Shubham Ghosh
SACHIN TENDULKAR, arguably the best batter ever produced in the history of cricket, achieved yet another milestone on Wednesday (24) when he turned 51. The former India captain was showered with birthday wishes during the day both by his fraternity and common people.
While the former India captain had played several match-winning knocks in his illustrious career spanning more than two decades, it was in 1998 that his birthday and on-field exploits had happened on the same day, making the occasion even more special.
On April 24, 1998, the day Tendulkar had turned 25, India were facing a formidable Australian side in the final of a tri-nation tournament in Sharjah that also featured New Zealand. It was only two days ago that Tendulkar had played a blazing knock of 143 off 131 balls against the same opponents to take his country into the final, pipping the Kiwis in the net run rate.
In the final, Steve Waugh’s Australia were firm favourites, having won all their four games to reach the title round. Keeping India’s unsuccessful but heroic run chase, thanks to Tendulkar, then captain Mohammed Azharuddin won the toss and asked the opponents to bat first.
What a way to kick off my birthday week! I had so much fun playing football, sharing stories and cutting my birthday cake with these incredible girls who are supported by the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation. They were the first ones to wish me and it made my week truly special!… pic.twitter.com/G8Wlqy4XPf
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) April 24, 2024
Australia batted well to post a challenging 272 for nine wickets with both Waugh and Darren Lehmann scoring 70 and wicket-keeper-batter Adam Gilchrist and Michael Bevan making 45. For India, medium pacer Venkatesh Prasad took two wickets for 32 to become the most successful bowler.
Coming out to chase 273 to lift the trophy, India opener Sourav Ganguly was dismissed early on 23 but Tendulkar, the other opener, picked it from where he had left in the previous game. He added 89 runs with Nayan Mongia who was promoted up the order and after the latter fell, Tendulkar added 120 runs with his captain who also scored a half-century.
Among the bowlers in the Australia line-up, were the likes of Shane Warne, Damien Fleming and Michael Kasprowicz.
It was when India had required only 25 runs to win the match that Tendulkar fell to a dubious decision from umpire Steve Bucknor, who was accused of giving verdicts against the Indian batter often in his career.
Tendulkar returned to the pavilion scoring 134 off 131 deliveries that included 12 fours and three sixes and it was only a formality before Ajay Jadeja and Hrishikesh Kanitkar finished off the game with India having six wickets in hand.
The back-to-back centuries by Tendulkar against Australia in the desert city is collectively called the ‘Desert Storm’ and millions of the Master Blaster’s fans still cherish them, even quarter of a century later.
For the cricketer, 1998 was a special one as he went on to score nearly 1,900 runs in the year with nine one-day international hundreds.
Tendulkar, who had made debut for India at the age of 16 years and continued to play till 40, scored 15,921 runs in 200 Tests, 18,426 runs in 463 one-day internationals and 10 in the sole T20 game that he played.
He was also the first batter on the planet to slam a double hundred in the 50-over format when he made 200 not out in only 147 balls against South Africa in India’s Gwalior in 2010.
