During his illustrious cricket career, Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar played a number of dazzling innings in Tests and ODIs to script victories for his team.
In a career spanning 24 years, Tendulkar played 200 Tests and 463 ODIs for India, scoring the world record number of runs (15921 in Tests and 18426 in ODIs), hundreds (51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs) and half-centuries (66 in Tests and 96 in ODIs).
Therefore, picking his best innings is one heck of a task. But Tendulkar himself on Saturday (May 16) singled out some of his personal favourite knocks, which were not quite big but certainly quality ones.
In an interview with cricket.com, the Master Blaster spoke about an ODI innings against Australia in the 2001 series and a knock against West Indies at Trinidad in 1997 on a damp wicket.
"An innings I will remember is the first ODI between India and Australia in 2001, right after we won the historic Test series. I was batting well with VVS Laxman and together we got India off to a flying start. I had decided to be more aggressive against Glenn McGrath. There was an over where I attacked McGrath and managed to hit three boundaries and a six. The idea was to not let him settle, and the plan had largely worked. I eventually got run out for 35 runs in that match but I was in good form to continue otherwise," Sachin said.
"Another innings I cherish is the first one-day international between West Indies and India at Trinidad in 1997. We batted first, and the weather was overcast, with the wicket damp in the morning. Not only was the wicket challenging to bat on, their bowling attack was extremely good as well. Their pace battery consisted of Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Ian Bishop and Franklin Rose. I was able to counterattack and score quick 44 runs, before getting out to Ambrose caught behind on what was an umpiring error. It was a rain-curtailed match and we lost the match, but purely for the tough conditions in which one had to bat on, I rank that innings as one of my favourites," he added.
Tendulkar also reflected on his much-talked about assault on Australian bowlers during an ICC KnockOut Trophy game in 2000.
"I cannot forget the match against Australia in the ICC Champions Knockout Trophy in Nairobi in 2000 as well. The wicket was once again damp and not a very easy one to bat on. There was plenty of life on the surface. The way Glenn McGrath bowled the first over, I spoke to Sourav Ganguly and suggested that I go after McGrath.
"I realised we have to do something out of the box (play mind games) I exchanged a few words with him which took him by surprise. I also started playing shots against him, though some of them were risky. The plan was to get him angry and make him attack my body instead of looking to get me out.
"We were beaten on occasions but also were able to make McGrath bowl where we wanted. I made a quick-fire 38 and this came in a winning cause so I was very happy," he explained.
