Sachin Tendulkar’s 5 best ODI innings 

Sachin Tendulkar after 200* against South Africa, 2010 (Source: AFP)

One of the all-time batting greats, Sachin Tendulkar, graced the game with his batting prowess across all formats for more than two decades. Apart from being a leading run-scorer of all-time in Tests, Sachin Tendulkar also left an everlasting impact with his glorious performances in the ODIs. 

The Master Blaster ended his career as the leading run-scorer of all time in the ODIs, alongside hitting the most ODI centuries. 

Notably, Sachin, alongside former Pakistan legend Javed Miandad, was one of the only two cricketers who featured in six editions of the ODI World Cup. Sachin’s World Cup journey began in 1992, when he was just 20, and lasted until he became the World Champion in 2011 at the age of 39. 

In his more than 22-year-long ODI career, Sachin played a lot of ‘knocks for the ages’ which fans still cherish and remember. That said, here’s a look at Sachin Tendulkar’s five best innings in ODIs. 

Sachin Tendulkar’s five best innings in ODIs

200* against South Africa - Gwalior ODI, 2010 

February 24, 2010, was the day when history was created in the then-39-year-long journey of ODI cricket. The cricketing world bowed down to Sachin Tendulkar’s legendary 200-run knock against South Africa in the second ODI of the three-match series. It was the first-ever double century in the history of ODIs. 

India batted first after winning the toss in Gwalior; the hosts lost Virender Sehwag early at the score of 25 runs in 3.5 overs. Following his departure, Sachin Tendulkar added a decisive 194-run partnership for the second wicket with Dinesh Karthik (79) before the latter fell prey to Wayne Parnell in the 34th over. 

Furthermore, Sachin continued to smash the Proteas bowling attack across the ground and achieved the historic milestone of an ODI double century on the third ball of the last over. He played an unbeaten knock of 200 runs off just 147 balls, with 25 fours and three sixes. India won the game by 153 runs, with Sachin winning the ‘Player of the Match’ award. 

98 vs Pakistan - Centurion ODI, World Cup 2003

In a heated and politically tense environment, the arch-rivals, India and Pakistan, were facing each other in the 36th game of the ODI World Cup 2003 in Centurion, South Africa. The Pakistan skipper, Waqar Younis, won the toss and decided to bat first. The Men in Green posted 273 runs for the loss of seven wickets in the allotted 50 overs courtesy of Saeed Anwar’s century (101 runs off 126 balls). 

Furthermore, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag laid a quick, fiery foundation for India’s run chase, adding 53 runs in just 5.4 overs for the first wicket. After Sehwag’s dismissal, Sachin kept bashing the Pakistan’s pace trio of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar. 

Sachin’s gritty 98-run knock came to an end when he fell prey to cramps and was caught by Younis Khan off Shoaib Akhtar in the 28th over. However, India’s middle-order managed to cross the line in 45.4 overs, scoring 276 runs for the loss of four wickets courtesy of Mohammed Kaif (35), Rahul Dravid (44), and Yuvraj Singh’s unbeaten half-century (50). 

143 against Australia - Sharjah ODI, 1998 (Desert Storm)

India were facing Australia in the sixth game of the 1998 Coca-Cola Cup. The Men in Blue had already faced two successive defeats in the last two games. The then-Aussie skipper Steve Waugh won the toss and decided to bat first. Michael Bevan’s unbeaten century (101), following Mark Waugh’s half-century (81), took Australia’s score to 284 runs for the loss of seven wickets in the first innings. 

Later in the second innings, the game was reduced to 46 overs, and the target for India was revised to 276 from 285 runs. On that day, the fans also witnessed an ODI knock from Sachin Tendulkar that still glitters more than Australia’s 26-run win in this game. 

Sachin scored 143 runs off 131 balls, with nine fours and five sixes to take India closer to the win, but he didn’t have ample support from the other end. Eventually, India fell 27 runs short of the target at the end of the 46th over. However, Sachin won the ‘Player of the Match’ award despite India’s defeat. 

175 against Australia - Hyderabad ODI, 2009 

November 5, 2009, was the day fans would have realized that India’s batting was still relying on the then-37-year-old Sachin Tendulkar. Shane Watson’s 93 and Shaun Marsh’s century (112) propelled Australia to the big total of 350 runs for the loss of four wickets in the first innings. 

While chasing the target, India got a quick start of 66 runs in just 8.5 overs by the opening pair of Virender Sehwag (38) and Sachin Tendulkar before the former fell prey to Ben Hilfenhaus. After losing the first wicket, India lost wickets at regular intervals before an all-important 137-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Sachin Tendulkar and Suresh Raina (59). 

But Raina’s dismissal was followed by a drastic collapse, including the end of Sachin Tendulkar’s memorable knock at the individual score of 175 runs off just 141 balls, with 19 fours and four sixes. Eventually, the hosts lost the game by a narrow margin of three runs, trailing 2-3 after five matches of the seven-match ODI series. 

117* against Australia - Sydney ODI, 2008

This unbeaten century against Australia in the first of the ‘best of three’ finals in the CB Series 2008 holds a special place in Sachin Tendulkar’s ODI career. This century was significant for Sachin, as it broke the jinx of the nervous nineties that lasted for almost 13 months across 36 ODI innings. 

On January 31st, 2007, Sachin scored his 41st ODI century, followed by a series of disappointments as he approached his 42nd ODI century the following year in the CB Series final against Australia. After his 41st ODI century, Sachin was dismissed six times in the nineties, including three times on 99 (99, 93, 99, 94, 97, 99), falling just a run short of his century. 

Nevertheless, the wait came to an end on a special occasion. Sachin Tendulkar’s unbeaten 117-run knock during the run chase in the first final in Sydney helped India beat the Aussies by four wickets. With this win, India also took a lead of 1-0 against the hosts in the ‘best of three finals’ before clinching the trophy with a win in the second final as well.