With curtains finally falling on the 23 year old illustrious career of the Master Blaster, its time to rewind on his best career knocks of all time in Test Cricket:
1.136 vs Pakistan @ Chennai,1999
This has to be perhaps the greatest of innings that that Little Master played.Yes India did lose the match in the end by 13 runs but if it wasn't for the heroics of Tendulkar that India could never put up a fighting performance against the formidable Pakistani side & most importantly Saqlain Mushtaq,the man tormented India throughout the series.Sachin fought immense back pain & pressure to help India chase 271 but he fell short as India lost the match by mere 13 runs.One of master's most clutch performances.
2.241 vs Australia @ Sydney,2004
The fourth test match of the series & yes Sydney Cricket Ground it was as people would build it "Sachin Cricket Ground".It had been a quite series for the Master coupled with super bad umpiring decisions.But the Master wasn't done yet.People save their best for last but Tendulkar reserves it against the mighty Aussies.His determination,his will,his discipline was exemplary.Tendulkar didn't hit a single ball on the off side or the covers as he was repeatedly getting out on balls bowled to him on the off stump.Patience Personified to be precise to describe this innings of the Master.
3.193 vs England @ Headingley,2002
One of the Master's most brutal & dominating knocks that cricket fans have ever witnessed.India batting first scored a gigantic total of 628-8 dec in the first innings aided by tons from Ganguly,Dravid & Tendulkar who eventually won the match for India & helped to level the series at 1-1.Sachin scored a magnificent yet fluent 193 a knock which included 19 fours & 3 huge six.One specific six he hit of Andrew Caddick,he came down half pitch & hit it for a huge six.It was billed as "Home Run" by Geoff Boycott.
4.103 vs England @ Chennai,2008
The match was played in the backdrop on the 26/11 attacks that stormed Mumbai.With 387 left to chase in the fourth innings Sehwag,Yuvraj & Sachin sealed the victory for Team India.The Master notably played a masterclass innings of 103 not out under immense pressure & limited time to seal the victory for Indian Team.Sachin once again proved that his hundreds are not limited to matches ending in draws or losses but also victories.He noted his this knock as one of his best ever.
5.146 vs South Africa @ Cape Town,2010
Sachin scored an impressive 146 against the mighty bowling attack of the Proteas.Dale Steyn the best bowler in world cricket too had a tough time bowling against the master.Steyn along with Morne Morkel were on the receiving end this time as the Master Blaster terrorised the South African Bowling around the park.One of the Master's finest
6.114 vs Australia @ Perth,1992
Even after two decades after playing that knock the Aussies are still surprised as to how a shaky 20 year old could play an innings of such character & valour.The Aussie bowling attack comprising of Craig McDermott,Merv Hughes,P Reifell & MR Whitney were in the prime of their bowling prowess but Tendulkar stormed the occassion & staked his claim as a rising young superstar.
7.116 vs Australia @ Melbourne,1999
Team India were going through their worst,it was a lull for both the team as well as the then Captain Sachin Tendulkar.The problem was Team India's over dependence on the Master.In the second test match of the series though Tendulkar gave all that he could possibly have.Out of team total 212 the master scored 116 impressive runs against the mighty bowling attack of Fleming,McGrath,Lee & Warne.An innings played under tremendous pressure but under a losing cause nevertheless the Master once again proved his metal with consistent performances against top bowling attacks.
8.117 vs West Indies @ Trinidad & Tobago,2002
India finally won a test match in the carribean & it was worth the wait.Unlike the original "Little Master",Sunil Gavaskar,Sachin Tendulkar had to wait before he could win a match here against the West Indies.It was an important innings which shaped the way for India to win the match.
9.119 vs England @ Manchester,1991
Sachin's first century & what a fighting innings it was.Thriving under pressure has always been with him since his debut & he is still going strong carrying the hopes of nation of a billion people on his shoulders.Sachin's fighting knock helped India save the match.The world witnessed a young 17 year old marking his entry with a bang.Very few would have predicted that this young lad would go on to become one of the greatest batsman in the history of cricket.
10.155 vs Australia @ Chennai,1998
The series dubbed as the" Warne vs Tendulkar" duel lived upto its impressive heights.Tendulkar was on a different zone in this series.People started identifying Tendulkar with Sir Viv Richards who was originally called the Master Blaster.Sachin slammed Warne for huge sixes as well as hitting him inside out & various cover drives of Kasprowicz & Peter Reifell..It was a treat to watch vintage Tendulkar in action, destroying bowlers at his will.Mark Taylor,the Australian Captain back then had famously stated in the post match presentation that they didn't lose to a team called India but to a man called Sachin Tendulkar.
Honourable mention:
160 vs New Zealand @ Hamilton,2009
169 vs South Africa @ Cape town,1997
177 vs Australia @ Bangalore,1998
148 vs Australia @ Sydney,1992
