Sachin, page 4
THIS ALSO HAPPENED IN 1994
Back in 1992, when India first visited South Africa, Tendulkar was very keen on knowing more about the legend of Nelson Mandela. In 1994, as Tendulkar’s legend kept growing, Mandela and his ANC were finally confirmed winners and on 10 May, he was chosen as South Africa’s first black president. A month later, South Africa reclaimed its seat in the United Nations.
On 11 November, as Tendulkar was whipping the West Indies for his third ODI century in a span of less than two months, Bill Gates, by now among the world’s richest men, bought Leonardo da Vinci’s scientific writings called the Codex (Gates renamed them Codex Leicester) for a record US$30.8 million, the highest price ever paid for a book.
The same year, the Beatles’ first album in 25 years, Live at BBC, was released in Britain on 30 November.
And yes, this was also the year in which we began hearing about early burnouts in sport, as Jennifer Capriati was arrested for possession of marijuana on 16 May.
CHAPTER 5
1995
A Winning Hundred at Sharjah
Since his debut in 1989, it was only in the year 1991 that Sachin Tendulkar had failed to score a century in a calendar year. In 1995, the Asia Cup century at Sharjah against Sri Lanka was his only three-figure knock. It was a year that saw him play just three Tests at home against New Zealand and 12 one-day internationals. Yet, for the record books, that sole century of the year was his first at a neutral venue, Sharjah. He got only one other 50-plus score in ODIs but he did have six scores in the 30s and 40s in the shorter format. In Tests he had one fifty – 52 not out against New Zealand at Chennai.
A Century in the Desert Takes India to Final and Asia Cup
‘Technically, you can’t fault Sachin. Seam or spin, fast or slow, nothing is a problem - Geoffrey Boycott, rediff.com, 14 November 2009
THE SITUATION
The other teams in the Asia Cup at Sharjah were Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. When India met Sri Lanka for the fifth game of the tournament, Pakistan had won two matches while India and Sri Lanka had won one each and Bangladesh none. Tendulkar had scored 48 in India’s win against Bangladesh but failed in India’s loss in the first match against Pakistan. The fifth game was a must-win for India while Lanka still had one league game against Pakistan. India won and made the final, as did Sri Lanka by beating Pakistan in the next game.
RELIVING THE CENTURY
Arjuna Ranatunga won the toss and elected to bat, but the hosts never really got going. There were no big innings - 48 by Hashan Tillakeratne was the highest - and the best partnership was 71 between Tillakeratne and P.K. Dharmasena for the seventh wicket as the Lankans managed a modest 202 for nine in 50 overs.
Tendulkar and Manoj Prabhakar (60) were on song from the start, giving the hosts no chance. They put on 161 runs and virtually killed the match. Javagal Srinath was sent up the order after Prabhakar’s and Sidhu’s dismissals and India won the match with 16.5 overs to spare in one of their most comprehensive wins.
Tendulkar was brilliant, reaching his first fifty of just 44 balls. His 112 came of 107 balls.
Tendulkar’s match-winning 112 not out helped India top the table as Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in the next league match. Along with India, it was Sri Lanka who entered the final. Five days later, India met Sri Lanka for the second time, and for the second time India won by eight wickets and took the Asia Cup. In the final, Tendulkar got 41 of 41 balls.
Did you know…
» Sachin Tendulkar’s century against Sri Lanka was his first at a neutral venue: Sharjah.
» India’s top order batting clicked so well - Sachin Tendulkar (205 runs), Sidhu (195 runs), Prabhakar (122 runs) and Azharuddin (101 runs) - that India lost more than two wickets only once in four matches. That was against Pakistan in their 97-run loss in a league match.
PARALLEL LIVES
Viswanathan Anand: It was Anand’s first real shot at the World Championship, albeit the rebel PCA title. He finally overcame his nemesis, Gata Kamsky, beating him in the Candidates final at Las Palmas, Spain. That put him up against the one and only Garry Kasparov. In a classic encounter, Kasparov after eight draws lost a game to Anand, but then proceeded to outplay him at the World Trade Center, New York. Ironically, the match started on 11 September 1995 with a symbolic move by New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Six years to the date, terrorists blew up the twin towers.
Leander Paes: Paes was still not a force on the ATP singles circuit and was finding his feet in the world of doubles. He reached the Australian Open doubles quarter-finals with Kevin Ullyett. But the Davis Cup once again set the stage for more daring deeds.
India had been pushed to the Zonals after their defeat at the hands of South Africa, despite Paes’ wins, the previous year.
Now, in 1995, Paes won both his singles and doubles matches against Hong Kong and the Philippines to steer India into the World Group play-of s once again. There India ran into much higher-ranked Croatia with Goran Ivanisevic in their ranks. The big-serving Ivanisevic had reached the Wimbledon finals in 1992 and 1994, besides taking bronze in singles and doubles (beating Paes and Ramesh Krishnan in the quarter-finals) at the 1992 Olympics.
But on 24 September 1995, with the tie poised 2-2 at Delhi’s National Sports Club of India, it was Paes’ hour. He first beat Sasa Hirszon in straight sets and then won the doubles with Mahesh Bhupathi, now his regular partner. He added a third point against Ivanisevic, rallying from a two-set deficit to give India a stunning 3-2 win and a passage to the World Group once again.
THIS ALSO HAPPENED IN 1995
The International Year of Tolerance saw Austria, Finland and Sweden join the European Union, but in Asia, an earthquake virtually destroyed Kobe, killing more than 5,700 people. Japan was also rocked by the infamous nerve-gas attack in Tokyo’s subways on 20 March.
Boxer Mike Tyson came out of jail after three years and resumed his career. This was also the year when the legend of Tiger Woods began to gather strength with the second of his three US Amateur titles and his first appearance at the Masters, where as an amateur he made the cut.
In March 1995, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was formed and over the next decade and a half it would become the best thing to happen to the Indian capital.
In September that year, the phenomenon of Ganesha statues ‘drinking’ milk hit the headlines. Spoonfuls of milk, when held up to the trunk of the statue, disappeared. Scientists explained it as capillary action: the surface tension pulled the milk up and out of the spoon before gravity caused it to run down the front of the statue. But the faithful believed it was God drinking all that milk.
CHAPTER 6
1996
The Flowering of a Legend
This was the beginning of the most prolific period in Sachin Tendulkar’s professional life. He was 22, and already a veteran. In six years of international cricket, he had become the pillar of the Indian team. Over the next seven years, he would cement his place as the greatest in the game.
At the start of the year1996, Sachin had played 38 Tests and had made 2,483 runs with eight centuries. He had also played 102 ODIs for 3,212 runs, including four centuries.
The next seven years, from 1996 to 2002, would see the flowering of the legend of Tendulkar. He would play 67 Tests and amass 6,328 runs with 23 centuries at an average of over 60 runs an innings. In the same period, he would play 198 ODIs and score 8,332 runs with 29 ODI centuries at an average of over 48. By the end of 2002 the talk of 100 centuries had begun, for he had 31 Test and 33 ODI hundreds and he was only 29 years of age.
The break-up of his hundreds, Tests and ODIs combined, between 1996 and 2002 is as follows: 1996 (8), 1997 (6), 1998 (12), 1999 (8), 2000 (5), 2001 (7), 2002 (6).
Tendulkar Gives India a Winning Start in World Cup at Home
‘A tremendous performance by Sachin Tendulkar. His first hundred in the World Cup and fifth in one-day internationals… and his fans are loving every second of it ’ - Tony Greig in the commentary box
THE SITUATION
It was India’s first match in the second World Cup at home. They opened with a thumping win, but against a weak opponent. India went on to reach the last eight with three wins and two losses, one each to Sri Lanka and Australia. In the quarter-finals India beat Pakistan, but their controversial semi-final against Sri Lanka was abandoned due to crowd trouble at Kolkata. Sri Lanka were awarded the match as the spectators, angry at India’s collapse, began throwing bottles onto the ground and the match was stopped.
RELIVING THE CENTURY
It was a winning start for India in the World Cup, where the fans had great expectations. It was also Kenya’s debut in one-day cricket and Tendulkar tore them apart in a World Cup experience that the Kenyans were unlikely to forget in a hurry.
His opening stand of 163 with Ajay Jadeja was a statistician’s delight. Apart from the quality of Tendulkar’s innings - his score was the third highest for India after Kapil Dev’s 175 not out against Zimbabwe in 1983 and N.S. Sidhu’s 134 not out against England in 1992-93 - it was the highest partnership for any wicket for India in a World Cup. It was also India’s third highest opening stand in ODIs and interestingly, all three records had come at Cuttack
Kenya came tantalizingly close to touching 200 at the end of their allotted 50 overs. They made 199 for six with a half-century by Steve Tikolo (65).
For India, Jadeja and Tendulkar opened and at the end of 20 overs they had put on 100 runs. Then Jadeja, struck by cramps, was dismissed, caught on the boundary for 53 in the 33rd over. Tendulkar was on 98 then. He was stuck on a nervous 99 for nine balls before he reached his fifth ODI hundred. Once he got there, he was his attacking self again, and by the time the game ended, he had made 127 not out from 134 balls. By then, Sidhu and Vinod Kambli had lost their wickets and Nayan Mongia got the winning runs with 49 balls to spare. It was Tendulkar’s second World Cup, and his first century. He was declared Man of the Match.
Did you know…
» With five ODI hundreds in 18 months, Sachin Tendulkar equalled Navjot Sidhu s record of five ODI centuries, the highest for India.
» Though he was not required to bat, the match was Mohammad Azharuddin’s 200th ODI.
Tendulkar Sets Records Galore but India Ends on the Losing Side
‘He is a tiny little package of dynamite… It just kept going… and going… and going… [on one of the sixes]… it was one of the great knocks in one-day cricket’ - Tony Greig in the commentary box
THE SITUATION
Despite the loss to Sri Lanka at the Ferozeshah Kotla - India had also lost to Australia earlier - India beat Kenya, West Indies and Zimbabwe to finish third in the league and qualify for the quarter-finals, where they beat Pakistan. They were then knocked out in the semi-finals following a riotous situation in the match against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka was, rather surprisingly, put in to bat after Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin won the toss. They dominated the match, scoring 251 for eight. They went on to reduce India to 120 for eight, including Tendulkar’s 65. At which point the livid spectators went out of control and the match was abandoned. The Islanders were awarded the match by default.
RELIVING THE CENTURY
Tendulkar got his second century of the World Cup against Sri Lanka. Put in to bat by Sri Lanka, India lost Manoj Prabhakar early, but Sanjay Manjrekar (32) helped them go from 27 to 93. By the time India reached 100, Sri Lanka had run through half their overs. The Indian innings was interrupted briefly by rain. When play resumed, Tendulkar and skipper Azharuddin hammered the Sri Lankan bowling, putting on 175 runs for the third wicket. In the last 11 overs Tendulkar went on a rampage and in the expensive last over, Pushpakumara was hit for 23 runs. However, the lethargy of the first 25 overs cost India dear and they managed to set Sri Lanka a target of only 272 runs.
Tendulkar scored 137, his highest ODI century and his sixth ODI hundred in just 28 games. This also made him the highest ODI century-maker for India, a position he would never again relinquish.
Faced with a target of 272, Sri Lanka opened with Sanath Jayasuriya who, a decade and a half later, would become Tendulkar’s opening partner in the Indian Premier League, and Romesh Kaluwitharana. Sri Lanka were of to a great start as Jayasuriya with Kaluwitharana scored 42 in the first three overs and reached fifty in less than five. The 33 conceded by Prabhakar in the first two overs forced the medium-pacer to resort to of -spin in his second spell of two overs!
Anil Kumble and Tendulkar, who was also given the ball, managed to restrict Sri Lanka in the latter half of their innings, but Arjuna Ranatunga (46) and Hashan Tillakeratne (70) took them past the post with a stand of 131. Tendulkar was the second best bowler for the Indians in terms of economy, giving away only 41 in 10 overs. Yet India were outplayed and the Sri Lankans won by six wickets with eight balls to spare.
Did you know…
» Sachin Tendulkar’s 137 took him to the No. 2 position on the list of highest ODI scores by an Indian, ahead of Sidhu’s 134 not out against England in 1992-93. Only Kapil Dev’s 175 not out against Zimbabwe in 1983 stood ahead of Tendulkar.
» Sachin Tendulkar became the top scorer at the World Cup with 531 runs.
A New Venue and Another Century for Tendulkar
‘ I saw him playing on television and was struck by his technique, so I asked my wife to come look at him. Now I never saw myself play, but I feel that this player is playing much the same as I used to play, and she looked at him on television and said yes, there is a similarity between the two… high compactness, technique, stroke production… It all seemed to gel ’ - Sir Donald Bradman, 1996
THE SITUATION
Soon after the World Cup in India, Singapore hosted its first-ever international tournament, the Singer Cup, at the Padang. The crowd was largely expat and from the subcontinent.
India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka won one and lost one game each in the league stage. When India met Pakistan, the latter needed to win to stay in contention. They did, and made the final on the basis of the net run rate.
The Padang is a small ground and Sanath Jayasuriya made a mockery of the field placements as he kept hitting over the fielders. He had a century of 48 balls and scored 134 of 65 balls against Pakistan in a league match. In the final, also against Pakistan, he scored 76 of 28 balls, but Pakistan won the game and the title.
For Tendulkar, it was another century at a neutral venue, following the one at Sharjah the previous year.
RELIVING THE CENTURY
India, put in to bat by Pakistan, scored 226 for eight in 47.1 overs as their innings was curtailed by heavy rain. Tendulkar had 100 of 111 balls, but towards the closing stages, Saqlain Mushtaq successfully controlled him and stemmed the flow of runs. Bogged down by the of e, Tendulkar was finally stumped by Rashid Latif.
Tendulkar’s 111-ball century was his seventh in ODIs. Pakistan became the eighth international team against whom Tendulkar had a hundred in either a Test or an ODI.
With a fair amount of time lost, the revised target for Pakistan was 187 in 33 overs in the league match.
Pakistan were aided by a quickfire start of 144 in 20 overs by Aamir Sohail (76 of 89 balls) and Saeed Anwar (74 of 49 balls). Anwar’s assault included three sixes of Venkatapathy Raju. After Anwar’s exit, Man of the Match Sohail carried on responsibly, and Pakistan's win brought all teams level on points. But Sri Lanka and Pakistan went into the finals on the basis of a better net run rate.
Did you know…
» Though Sachin Tendulkar had made his debut against Pakistan in 1989, this was his first century against them in either format.
» Sachin Tendulkar played only two matches in Singapore and he got a century in one of them.
» Sanath Jayasuriya set a world record by scoring a 48-ball century in the tournament, but before the year was out, Shahid Afridi of Pakistan would score a 37-ball century against Sri Lanka.
A Second Century Against Pakistan in Ten Days
‘If I have to make a prediction then I will say that he will end up with 50 tons in each form of the game. Anything less would disappoint Tendulkar’s fans and more importantly, the great little man himself - Wasim Akram, rediff.com, September 2002
THE SITUATION
The Indian cricketing caravan moved from the World Cup in India to the Singer Cup in Singapore to the Pepsi Cup at Sharjah in a matter of weeks. India had beaten Pakistan in the World Cup and lost to them in Singapore. Now, 10 days later, India once again beat Pakistan on the shoulders of a fine century from Sachin Tendulkar.
Though India and Pakistan continued their rivalry in the Gulf, South Africa dominated the tournament, winning all five games, including four in the league. India made the final on a better run rate, ahead of Pakistan, but lost the final to South Africa.
RELIVING THE CENTURY
It was Tendulkar’s second century against Pakistan in 10 days. But in between the two centuries, he had been dismissed for 1 and 2, the first time against Pakistan at Sharjah and the second time against South Africa.
Electing to bat after India won the toss, debutant Vikram Rathour was dismissed early, but then Tendulkar (118) and Navjot Sidhu (101) were involved in a record-breaking 231-run stand for the second wicket. It was the highest partnership for any wicket for India and it also set the foundation for India’s first-ever score above 300. It was only the second time that two Indian batsmen had reached three figures in an ODI.
Tendulkar, who had failed in the previous two matches against Pakistan and South Africa, played a brilliant innings en route to a superb century. At the other end, Sidhu too dominated the bowling, being particularly severe on the slow bowlers. With Azharuddin belting 24 in the final over and 29 of 10 deliveries, India totalled 305 for six.
