Tendulkar's explosive adventure at Centurion

Since the great Viv Richards left the scene, no batsman has ever been able to provide an aura like Sachin Tendulkar. To chalk out Tendulkar's best innings from 49 ODI hundreds and 96 ODI fifties is tough, because all of those knocks had a certain style, possessed a certain gravity. But, in my view, one knock will certainly remain the most adventurous - his 98 off 75 balls against Pakistan at Centurion in the 2003 World Cup.

Centurion was blessed with bright sunshine and the atmosphere in the stadium was absolutely electrifying. Two old enemies, India and Pakistan, met each other on cricket's biggest stage after a gap of three years. It was such a high voltage match that the heat spread throughout the subcontinent. We had a Community Medicine Viva exam on March 1, 2003 but our lecturer declared that there would be no Viva on that day on the eve of the Indo-Pak clash. Very soon our Medical College became empty two hours before the start of the match. It was just 11:30 am.

It was a do or die match for Pakistan. It carried enough importance for this third year medical student who was rooting for Pakistan. All went according to plan. Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat without a second thought as on the previous meetings in the World Cup Pakistan had lost to India while chasing. Riding on Saeed Anwar's scintillating hundred, Pakistan posted a fighting total of 273 for 7. With Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar and Abdul Razzaq around, it appeared a tough task for the Indians to chase this total.

But Tendulkar had other ideas. He decided to take the strike instead of Virender Sehwag. Akram, who opened the bowling for Pakistan, pitched his first delivery on target which Sachin played safely. Then Akram pitched one on a length swinging away and Tendulkar pounced to hammer four through the covers. Then a well pitched delivery back of a length, straightening up was sweetly timed on the onside for four. Enter Shoaib. After pitching one short which Sachin negotiated safely, Shoaib sent down a thunder bolt, wide outside off, swinging away. Tendulkar used the pace of the ball and played a cut shot, inside out and over the top, sending the ball into the stands several rows back behind deep point. If there was ever a shot that could mentally down an opposition, then that was it. Tendulkar was charged up and was unstoppable.

The dismissals of Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly didn't bother Tendulkar. He was unfazed by the continuous verbal attack from Shoaib and Co and answered each of Pakistan's missiles with a bouquet of strokes. Anything on the toes saw Tendulkar shuffle across and time the ball impeccably to the midwicket fence. A copybook on-drive hinted at the master's authority. Tendulkar brought up 12,000 ODI runs when he reached 83. Cramps disturbed his momentum but he defied the pain and batted with grit and courage.

Shoaib returned for another bustling spell and sent down a vicious short ball with lethal pace to induce an edge from Tendulkar's bat. The little master was dismissed for 98. But the job was done to knock Pakistan out of the World Cup. There was joy amongst the Indian supporters but somewhere in Dhaka, this young medical student was shattered and lost. Tendulkar not only slaughtered the Pakistani attack but also had snuffed the dreams and hopes of this Pakistani cricket fan. That night I suffered from insomnia. My mind suffered, courtesy Tendulkar.

I still frequent that explosive innings. Given the circumstances, the occasion and the opposition attack, that epic at Centurion is undoubtedly Tendulkar's greatest ODI knock.

Note: This article has been published on Cricketnext on 30/12/2012 Tendulkar's explosive adventure at Centurion

Thank You

Faisal Caesar