The ‘Wonder Boy’ of Mumbai, Sachin Tendulkar shocked the world when he called time on his illustrious career.
Sachin’s fans recall his best innings
The ‘Wonder Boy’ of Mumbai, Sachin Tendulkar shocked the world when he called time on his illustrious career. Sachin will hang up his boots after playing his 200th Test against the West Indies. Here are some fans who recall the ‘Master Blaster’s’ famous innings they have witnessed:
Arjun Swami
It has to be the 1998 Chennai Test against Pakistan, because that innings (though India ended up losing) signified, in many sense, what Sachin meant for this nation. For us Indians, this one man’s success felt like our success, his failures (however few) felt like our failure. Don’t think there are many who can boasts of being the pulse of a nation.
Praneet Salian
I rate Sachins 155 not out against the Aussies in Chennai in 2004 as his greatest innings. The show was all about the greatest batsman vs the greatest bowler on a viciously spinning Chennai wicket. Warne getting him out in the first innings rather cheaply with Sachin responding with sheer class in the second. At the end of the game Sachin’s score resembled a clock that had covered 12 hours with runs scored in every direction. Years after the badgering Warne said he had dreams for a long time after that innings of Sachin hitting deliveries over his head for sixes. That says it all now. Doesn’t it? It was a mortal on the brink of achieving godly status.
Nitin Uppot
They say a pristine, speckles soul alone can fight temptation. How true is that? A series when most of the batsmen were doing well, one wasn’t, our very own little master – India in Australia 2003-04. Came Sydney and came a change in mindset, a will to resist temptation on one of his finest strengths – the drives on the up and the fierce cuts. He locked them up, took an entire 180 degrees of the cricket field out of the equation. Do you remember any batsman who has even tried leaving everything outside off stump and then cross 200? I can’t think of anyone. Above all, its not the score, 241, that makes it, in my opinion Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar’s finest innings, it is the determination and will power which convinces me to go for this one. Gods have powerful weapons, magical animals and angels on their side. All Tendulkar had was a piece of willow which he turned into a magic wand. RIP Tendulkar’s cricketing career!
Dhruvil Patel
My favourite has to be Sydney 2004 against Australia (241 not out) at the Sydney Cricket Ground. His partnership with VVS Laxman that send ripples down the Aussie bowling line-up. Because of his innings, the Aussies didn’t get a chance to fight back and could only manage a draw.
Ronak Patwa
My personal best was the 103 not out versus England at Chennai in 2008. The knock was extra special especially when the nation was traumatized with the attacks in Mumbai. He contributed to the spirit of India by scoring runs and led India to win a stunner.
