Sachin Tendulkar, the legendary batsman of India will gift the world his last test match at his home ground the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai where he grew up playing since childhood. This is the exact ground where he began as a young player making his mark and stupefying great players with a display of his unmatched talent. He played numerous Ranji matches for Mumbai in this very ground and even led his Ipl team the Mumbai Indians to a glorifying victory. This is going to be a very emotional moment for the fans and even the master-blaster himself. After serving his country for the last 24 long and tiring years its’ going to end at his home stadium with a blast. To refresh the memories here are the five special knocks of the little master at the Wankhede stadium.
A Class 55 Against The Aussies (2004):
This innings must be mentioned as Sachin Tendulkar showed the world how great a player he can be in this format of the game. With India all out at 104 and Australia having scored 203 in the first innings, tough times had hit on our side. Australians had a 99 run lead. The second innings had not gone too well either with Virender Sehwag and Gambhir out early and India managing a mere 14 runs. It was the master-blaster who came in to rescue the team along-side V. V. S. Laxman and added 91 runs to bring the total to 105. Tendulkar’s 55 runs had a six along with six other boundaries. India got a lead of 106 runs lead and ultimately showed the visitors the door by getting them all out at 93 and securing a tight 13 run win.
94 vs. West Indies (2011):
Sachin faced another ‘nervous nineties’ on this day. Though India won comfortably in the end but millions of fans’ heart broke that day. In the 1st innings West Indies scored a brilliant 590 and then India started off decently till the team lost its top 3. Sachin came out at no. 4 while the score board read 138 for India. On the 3rd day Sachin was looking quite in control and ended that day on 67 not out. He had 99 international centuries up his sleeves till that day and everybody was expecting to witness the little master’s 100th century. Sachin was playing some glorious shots but at the end gave up his bat on day 4 to Ravi Rampaul’s bowling. Darren Sammy took a stunning catch at 2nd slip and Sachin’s knock came to an end at 94 runs and the whole of Wankhede stadium experienced a pin-drop silence.
148 vs. Sri Lanka (1997):
This was Sachin Tendulkar’s first international century at his home ground and it was an innings of pure grit and substance. He played with extreme discipline after tea on the 1st day n scored just 8 runs in 71minutes.On the second day he broke free and started hitting the ball with elegance and ease. This innings of the master consisted of 20 boundaries and 3 sixes. With this innings of his life he reached to 4000 runs mark in test cricket and also awarded as man of the match.
76 vs. Australia (2001):
The 2001 Border-Gavaskar series is probably remembered mainly Laxman’s superb 281 at the Eden Gardens. But this rest match also depicts the amount of dependence team India had on Sachin during 2001-2002. Marking his knock by 13 class boundaries Sachin gave India a good start against the Warnes and McGraths. But his dismissal gave Aussies the control of the game as India was all over at 173.
97 vs. South Africa (2000):
This is one match that in true sense showcased how destructive Sachin can be with his bat. The South-African attack was of no harm to the little master as he effortlessly hit about 12 fours and 2 sixes on his way to 97. Sachin was declared Man-of-the-match for his superb plat under pressure although his team lost the match.