Happy Birthday, Sachin Tendulkar! A peek into Master Blaster’s best innings

Sachin Tendulkar may have retired from cricket but he will always remain the most splendid player India has ever seen. On his 49th birthday, we take a look at some of the best innings in his stellar career.

The gifted batsman has scored 49 centuries and 18,426 runs
in the ODIs. In fact, one among the several feathers he has in his cap, is that
he is the highest run scorer in both the Test and ODI matches. Not to mention,
that he is the only player to score 100 international centuries and the first
batsman to score a double hundred in ODI! Here are some of his most memorable innings.

Also read: Birthday wishes pour in as ‘Master Blaster’ Sachin Tendulkar turns 49

98 vs Pakistan, World Cup, 2003

India-Pakistan matches are always a thrill to watch, even
more so, if it’s in the World Cup. This match was one such phenomenon. When Saeed
Anwar’s century gave Pakistan a daunting 273/7 against India, Tendulkar led the
Indian team towards a smooth six-wicket triumph. How? With his batting prowess
he was able to secure 98 runs off a 75-ball innings that included 12 fours and a six.
Needless to say, Tendulkar’s role in the Indian team’s victory against Pakistan
in the World Cup has rightly become an iconic moment.

120 vs England, World Cup, 2011

India and England, like Ross and Rachel, have a long and
distinguished history. While England claims to have invented cricket, India is unquestionably
one of the best nations in the sport’s history. While wickets continued to fall
at regular intervals during the 2011 World Cup, Tendulkar kept up the
pace and got out at 120 after scoring a magnificent hundred. This
contributed to India’s impressive 338-run total. Even though the match ended
in a tie, India could have easily been the losing team, without the Master Blaster’s
batting genius.

Also read: Mentor Sachin Tendulkar explains Mumbai Indians’ poor run in IPL 2022

The World Cups are the not the only testimony to Tendulkar’s
brilliance. The batsman has also had various achievements fin the Indian
Premier League (IPL), some incredible ones, in fact, through the 78 matches he
played for Mumbai Indians.

Mumbai Indian vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 2009

Mumbai Indians won this match with a tally of 187/6.
Tendulkar scored 68 runs in 45 deliveries, including some spectacular strokes
that wowed the crowd. When the Knight Riders came to bat, no player stayed for
long. The match came to an end quickly when KKR was all out for 95 runs.

Mumbai Indian vs Rajasthan Royals, 2010

Just like in every match he has ever played in life,
Tendulkar put his best foot forward against arch-rivals CSK. In the hard run
chase, he made 72, including 8 fours and one six. CSK, who batted first, scored
180 runs in their first innings. MI, on the other hand, won the match by 5
wickets with one over to spare, courtesy of Sachin’s haul.

Mumbai Indian vs Chennai Super Kings, 2012

In yet another colossal defeat for CSK, the team secured
173/8 in their first innings, thanks to Dwayne Smith’s 40 and Murli
Vijay’s 41. MI, on the other hand, defeated the said ‘Kings’ by two wickets. With
a strike rate of 168.18, Tendulkar won hearts by scoring 74 runs in 44 balls.

Also read: How’s the ‘Jos’, high sir: Buttler joins Dhawan in elite list after ton vs DC

The beloved player has won the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Shri, but no award can ever describe the love he has gained from cricket fans, both in India and abroad.