As the IPL 2020 actions return to Sharjah, legendary Indian batsman and Sunrisers Hyderabad mentor VVS Laxman has recalled some of the finest memories of the UAE’s oldest stadium including Sachin Tendulkar’s back-to-back centuries against Australia in the 1998 Sharjah Cup featuring New Zealand.
Sharjah – among the three venues Dubai and Abu Dhabi for the IPL 2020 will be hosting the match between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday, 22nd September.
He also recalled Tendulkar’s famous ‘Desert Storm’ knock against Australia in the 1998 Coca Cola Cup.
Chasing 277 in 46 overs after a delay due to a ferocious desert storm, India needed to maintain a higher net run rate than New Zealand to qualify for the final and required to score at least 237, but it looked almost impossible for them to reach the mark given the Sharjah’s tumbling wicket.
Well, the Master Blaster rescued India with his blistering knock of 143 from 131 balls to guide the team to the summit clash of the tri-series but lost the game by 26 runs against Australia. The legendary cricketer yet again did magic with the bat, hitting a superb knock of 134 off 131 to help India win the 1997/98 Coca-Cola Cup by defeating Australia by 6 wickets in the final.
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Speaking to The Indian Express, Laxman recalled the memories of the famous knock by saying: “During the desert storm match I was fortunate to be in the best seat in the house; I was at the non-striker end. It was a most memorable experience. Sachin was in his zone, for him nothing else mattered but to make India qualify for the finals. It was his best ODI hundred.”
The SRH mentor further added, “He has scored so many hundreds but for me those two hundreds especially the desert storm hundred that helped us qualify for the final was probably the best hundred of Sachin in ODI’s. Then the way he batted in final. He smashed and demolished the Australian line-up that had very good bowlers,”
Laxman also recalled what Tendulkar told Anshuman Gaekwad in the team dressing room before playing memorable innings against Australia.
He further added, “One thing about a desert-storm hundred was when we came to changing room after the storm. Anshu Bhai (Anshuman Gaekwad) was our coach and I still remember he came to me to talk and then went to Sachin. Sachin was listening to music on his walkman and headphones. It’s something that he does normally when he is about to bat.”
Laxman signed off by saying, “He removed his headphone and said, “Don’t worry Anshu bhai I will make sure that I do everything possible to qualify for the finals”.
And we were a fair bit away at that stage, we had lost wickets. It was me, one more batsman, and then the bowlers to come. He had such confidence in himself that he will make sure that we qualify for the finals. That kind of confidence he gave to the coach, that is one thing, I will never ever forget.”
