No.5: Sachin Tendulkar 136 (273 balls)

India v Pakistan, 1st Test
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
January 28-31, 1999

Sachin goes, India gone. It was a truism in the Nineties, a decade in which a teenage Tendulkar quickly rose in stature, and was, by the end of it, the one player on whom all of India’s hopes rested on. That fact was never more evident than in the Chennai Test against Pakistan in 1999. India were 17 runs from victory by the end of a remarkable four days. Then Sachin went, and India were gone.

The pure figures don’t convey the full magnitude of the knock, even if they are impressive. Tendulkar scored 136 runs off 273 balls in the second innings of that match. The knock comprised 18 fours. He was in the middle for an incredible 405 minutes. Against an attack comprising Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq and a young Shahid Afridi. But, again, none of these convey the full majesty of the innings.

Perhaps India would have fared better had Tendulkar not accelerated. They were just 17 runs away when he played one shot too many, Mushtaq getting his man as Tendulkar’s leading edge fell to Akram at mid-off.

Pakistan were beyond excited, as a dejected Tendulkar walked back, his hunched shoulders betraying his disappointment in himself. His 136 was by far the highest score in the innings, and only two other batsmen made it to double digits. It was a knock for the ages.

But in keeping with the theme of the decade, Tendulkar’s wicket signalled India’s loss. Four wickets were claimed for four runs thereafter, as Pakistan won by 12 runs.

Sachin goes, India gone.