Continuing with Tendulkar’s ten best innings in Test match cricket.
169 v South Africa at Cape Town, 1997: That India lost this game hardly matters because for a long time on the third day of this Test match played between India and South Africa, Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Azharuddin displayed batting skills that left the entire stadium mesmerized.
India were 0-1 down in the series, and in reply to South Africa’s 529 and collapsed to 58/5 and looked certain to be losing by an innings. This was till Tendulkar and Azharuddin got together and smashed 222 of the best runs one would see against an attack comprising of Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener and Brian McMillan – all in their prime. Azhar left early, but Tendulkar went on to smash 169 and could have even gone on for more had Adam Bacher not pulled off the catch of the century. Despite his efforts, India lost by 282 runs.
155 v Australia at Chennai, 1998: This knock of an unbeaten 155 is often considered one of the best that he has played at home. India were hosting Australia in a three – or more – Tests series after 12 years and the Tendulkar v Warne battle was hyped up to a large extent. This was the first Test match and the Indians were bowled out for 257 in the first innings. Warne had had the better of Tendulkar with his dismissal. In reply, Australia garnered a lead of 71 runs – a big lead in India.
It was in the second innings that Tendulkar stamped his authority on the game. Coming into bat at 115/2, Tendulkar took on the Australian bowlers like a champion and battered them to all parts of the ground. Warne took one wicket in the innings of Rahul Dravid but leaked 122 runs, and the most endearing stroke of the game was when Tendulkar smote Warne over the deep mid-wicket fence for a huge six. India won with ease.