Sachin Tendulkar’s 5 best Test innings

Sachin Tendulkar in Chennai Test against England, 2008 (Source: AFP) 

Former legendary India batter Sachin Tendulkar still holds most of the records in Test cricket, even after more than 12 years since his retirement from international cricket. The list includes the iconic milestones like ‘most Test runs’, ‘most Test centuries’, and ‘most 50+ scores in the Tests’. 

After making his debut at the age of just 16 in 1989, Sachin went on to serve India for 24 years, until 2013. The Master Blaster played many glorious knocks in the longest format of the game, which made even his critics do nothing but praise his batting excellence.  

Hence, here we’ve picked Sachin Tendulkar’s five best Test innings, which left a lasting impact and are still discussed as case studies. 

Sachin Tendulkar's five best innings in Tests

241* against Australia - Sydney Test, 2004

In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2003-04, Sachin Tendulkar was struggling with a poor run of form in the Tests. Meanwhile, the Aussies had targeted his 'tendency to play the cover drive'. 

Eventually, it resulted in Sachin getting dismissed in an identical pattern of ‘edged and taken by keeper’ on three out of five innings before he roared back with an unbeaten double ton in the fourth Test at the SCG. 

In the five innings before smashing his Test career’s third double century, Sachin endured a string of miserable outings, scoring just 0,1, 37, 0, and 44, respectively. 

Nevertheless, in the first innings of the last Test in Sydney, the cricketing world witnessed Sachin’s determination to rectify his error. After India lost both Virender Sehwag and Aakash Chopra at the score of 128 runs, Sachin Tendulkar came into the middle at number four. 

The Master Blaster managed to shut his critics sharply by not getting trapped in the Aussie bowlers’ web of ‘cover drive greed’. He went on to score 241 runs off 436 balls, including just two cover drives throughout the entire knock. 

57 against Pakistan - Sialkot Test, 1989

During his debut series against Pakistan in 1989, it was his just sixth batting appearance when Sachin Tendulkar faced the wrath of Pakistan’s fearsome pace attack, including the likes of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. The last Test of the four-match series was played at the lush green Sialkot turf. 

The then-16-year-old Sachin came into the middle at number six in the second innings. Everyone was left shocked when Wasim Akram’s bouncer hit Sachin on the chin, resulting in some cuts and bleeding. But what followed this injury scare was a teenager’s resilience and statement that he belonged to international cricket. 

Sachin continued to bat even after injury and scored 57 runs off 134 balls, with six fours, before getting caught by wicketkeeper Nadeem Abbasi off skipper Imran Khan’s ‘outside the off stump’ delivery. Though the score was just 57, this knock is still remembered for Sachin’s grit and determination despite an injury. 

114 against Australia - Perth Test, 1992

After losing the five-match series by a 0-3 margin in four Tests, India were facing Australia in the fifth and last Test of the series in Perth. The then-Ausie skipper Allan Border won the toss and opted to bat first. The hosts posted a score of 346 runs in the first innings. 

In response to Australia's 346, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals, but it was a teenager, Sachin Tendulkar, who held one end firmly against Australia's lethal pace arsenal. Sachin completed his Test career’s third century amidst the failure of other Indian batters. 

He went on to score 114 runs off 116 balls, with 16 fours, to help India reach the total of 272 runs in the first innings. However, India still lost the game by 300 runs as they were bundled out at 141 runs in the second innings, while chasing the target of 442 runs.  

136 against Pakistan - Chennai Test, 1999

In Chennai, the first Test of the two-match series between India and Pakistan in 1999 is nothing short of cricketing folklore. The fans witnessed high-quality cricket in this game, including memorable individual performances from both the sides. 

In the same line of events, Sachin’s gritty 136-run knock despite back spasms, during India’s run chase, ended up as a highlight of this iconic Test match. 

After bundling out Pakistan at 238 runs in the first innings, India posted a total of 254 runs to take a 16-run lead. Furthermore, Pakistan scored 286 to set India a 271-run target in the fourth innings of the game. While chasing the target, India were pushed to the wall by Pakistan’s bowling attack. 

The hosts had lost half of their team at the score of just 82 runs. But it was Sachin who kept the Indian hopes alive despite losing partners at the other end. He stitched a much-needed partnership of 136 runs with wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia to revive India’s hopes. 

However, the master couldn’t finish the job for his team and was eventually dismissed by Saqlain Mushtaq when India were just 15 runs away from the victory. 

Sachin's departure was followed by India losing the remaining three wickets for only 2 runs, and Pakistan winning the game by 12 runs. It left Sachin broken and crying in the dressing room; he also refused to receive the ‘Player of the Match’ award. 

103* against England - Chennai Test, 2008

The two-match Test series between India and England in December 2008 was played in the aftermath of the unfortunate Mumbai Blasts (26/11), just 15 days before the first Test. However, England were persuaded to play the Test series and returned to India after the dust had settled. 

The then-English skipper Kevin Pietersen won the toss in Chennai and opted to bat first. England scored 316 runs in the first innings, courtesy of Andrew Strauss’ century, followed by Alastair Cook and Matt Prior’s half-centuries. 

In response, India were bundled out at the score of 241 runs, giving away the 105-run lead to the visitors at the end of the first innings. Later in the second innings, England scored 311 runs before declaring the innings and set a target of 387 runs for India at Chennai’s challenging track. 

While chasing the target, India had a decent start of 117 runs, but they lost the top three wickets within the subsequent 65 runs. After India lost their fourth wicket in VVS Laxman (26) at the score of 224 runs, Sachin Tendulkar carried India’s run chase, alongside Yuvraj Singh. 

The Master Blaster ended up winning the game for India by six wickets, with his unbeaten century (103 runs off 196 balls, with nine fours).