Sachin Tendulkar's 51st birthday: Recalling the 'God of Cricket's' top 10 knocks across formats

The former legendary Indian batter and the 'God of Cricket', Sachin Tendulkar, served the Indian Team in international cricket for a long period of 24 years, which is the longest period to play by an Indian player in the history of cricket. 

God is turning 51 today; with that said, here we'll have a look at the top 10 knocks of Sachin Tendulkar in his illustrious international career for India.

Here's a look at Sachin Tendulkar's top-10 knocks in international cricket

90 vs Australia, 1996, Mumbai

India and Australia were taking on each other in the 19th match of the 1996 ODI World Cup. Both teams played this match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 27. The Aussies posted a good total of 258 runs, losing all the wickets in the allotted 50 overs courtesy of star opener Mark Waugh’s amazing century.

However, another brilliant and well-fought knock was awaited from Indian opener Sachin Tendulkar. He scored a ‘struggling’ knock of 90 runs off 84 balls, with 14 fours and a six after the hosts lost their two wickets early at the score of only 7 runs. This knock from the master blaster ranks 10th in the list of his top-10 best ODI knocks.

140 vs Kenya, Bristol, 1999 (ODI)

It was when the ICC ODI World Cup 1999 was being played in England. India were locking horns with Kenya in the 15th match of the tournament at the County Ground in Bristol. Kenya won the toss and asked India to bat first. Batting first, Sachin Tendulkar came to bat at number 4 and scored an amazing century, scoring 140 runs off 101 balls with 16 fours and 3 sixes.

On the back of Sachin’s knock, India managed to post a total of 329 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in the allotted 50 overs. Later, Kenya could score only 235 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in the entire 7 wickets and India won the match by a margin of 94 runs, with Sachin Tendulkar getting ‘Player of the Match.

120 v England, 2011, Bengaluru

India and England faced each other in a nail-biting thriller in the 11th match of the ODI World Cup 2011, 13 years back from now. The hosts’ skipper MS Dhoni won the toss and decided to bat first; batting first, Sachin Tendulkar opened the innings for India, alongside Virender Sehwag.

Sachin smashed a brilliant century, scoring 120 runs off 115 runs, with 10 fours and 5 sixes. On the back of his century, India posted a total of 338 runs in 49.5 overs. Later, the match ended in a thrilling tie as England managed to score the same total.

85 vs Pakistan, 2011, Mohali

The arch-rivals India and Pakistan took on each other in the high-voltage semi-final of the ODI World Cup 2011. India batted first after winning the toss. The opening duo of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag stitched a quick partnership of 48 runs in 5.5 overs. Sachin played a crucial knock of 85 runs in this pressure match.

Sachin’s knock helped India to post a total of 260 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the allotted 50 overs. India won this match by 29 runs to face Sri Lanka in the final of the ODI World Cup 2011. Master Blaster won the ‘Player of the Match for his match-defining knock.

200* vs South Africa, Gwalior, 2010 (ODI)

It is still one of the most historic knocks in the entire history of ODI cricket when the men’s ODI cricket got its first double centurion in Sachin Tendulkar. The Indian legend scored an unbeaten 200 against South Africa in February 2010 in the Gwalior ODI.

India won this match by a heavy margin of 153 runs, with Sachin Tendulkar winning the ‘Player of the Match award for his knock.

143 & 134 vs Australia, Sharjah, 1998 (ODI)

Sachin Tendulkar was in the prime of his peak batting mastery in all forms of cricket, he smashed two centuries in this Coca-Cola Cup and both came against Australia in this tournament. This knock also became one of the sensational claims to fame for Sachin Tendulkar in his entire international career.  

98 vs Pakistan, Centurion, 2003 World Cup (ODI)

The match is still known for the bashing of the star Pakistan pace trio of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar by the former Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar. The fans also remember this match for Sachin’s historic uppercut against Shoaib Akhtar.

In this 36th match of the ODI World Cup 2023, Sachin Tendulkar played a crucial knock of 98 runs while India was chasing the target of 274 runs. His knock helped India to chase down the target in 45.4 overs, scoring 276 runs for the loss of 4 wickets.

241* vs Australia, Sydney 2004 (Test)

India and Australia were playing against each other in the fourth Test of the four-match series in Sydney. India batted first and posted a big total of 705 runs for the loss of 7 wickets before declaring the innings. Sachin scored an unbeaten century, scoring 241 runs followed by an unbeaten 60 in the second innings.

The match ended in a draw, with Sachin getting Player of the Match. The four-match series ended in a 1-1 draw scoreline.

175 vs Australia, Hyderabad, 2009 (ODI)

This knock and the scorecard reflect the dependency of the Indian Team on Sachin for a big time period. India were chasing the big target of 351 runs against Australia. India were looking in the game before Sachin got dismissed on the score of 175 runs.

He also won the ‘Player of the Match award despite India losing the match by a narrow margin of 3 runs.

155* vs Australia, Chennai, 1998 (Test)

India and Australia took on each other in the first Test of the three-match series at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. India batted first after winning the toss. Sachin got dismissed early on 4 in the first innings. India got all-out on 257 runs.

Australia scored 328 runs in the first innings. Later in the second innings, India scored 418 runs for the loss of 4 wickets before declaring the innings. Sachin Tendulkar scored a crucial 155 runs to help India post this total. Eventually, India won this match by 179 runs on the back of Sachin’s knock.

194* vs Pakistan, Multan 2004 (Test)

The match is known for two big reasons, one was undoubtedly the historic triple century scored by the star Indian opener Virender Sehwag, who scored 309 runs. Apart from this, it is also remembered for the ‘debatable declaration’ call from Indian skipper Rahul Dravid when Sachin was playing unbeaten on 194 runs.

However, there came a lot of answers to this decision of Rahul Dravid. Eventually, India won the Multan Test by a margin of an innings and 52 runs.

Sachin's 100th century (ODI)

India and Bangladesh took on each other in the 4th match of the Asia Cup 2012, in which Tendulkar completed his historic 100th international century. Sachin scored 114 runs off 147 balls, with 12 fours and a six.

However, his knock went in vain as Bangladesh defeated India by a margin of 5 wickets which faded the colours of Sachin’s 100th international century.