Watch: This day in 2003 –Sachin Tendulkar hits Shoaib Akhtar for an iconic six in the World Cup

India has never lost to Pakistan in either 50 over World Cup or 20 over World Cup.

Sachin Tendulkar scored 98 against Pakistan in 2003 World Cup

India v Pakistan in the cricket World Cup is always a big occasion for the fans of both the sides. The intensity of the rivalry between the arch rivals has always garnered huge ratings for the ICC and hence they have always scheduled the two teams to clash at the mega event.

In 2003 World Cup, played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya, India and Pakistan clashed at Centurion. This match was much hyped as the two teams played each other after a gap of three years. The match saw Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh play knocks of their lives to take India to the win.

Sachin played the aggressor’s role with a brilliant innings of 98 and with 274 runs to chase for a win, took apart the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar at the start of the Indian innings.

Virender Sehwag had deposited Waqar Younis to the point boundary for a six at the start of the innings and when Sachin came on strike against Shoaib Akhtar, sparks were expected to fly. Akhtar became the first bowler to break the 100mph barrier during the World Cup and much was expected of him, when Pakistan played India.

‘Master Blaster’ Sachin Tendulkar knew that he couldn’t let Akhtar dictate the tempo of the match and took him on from the first ball itself. Akhtar came onto ball in the second over of the Indian chase and Sachin immediately deposited him over the point fieldsmen for a six, a shot that has become iconic and is shown everytime when someone talks about India-Pakistan rivalry.

Sachin Tendulkar fell for 98 to Shoaib, but it was too late, as Yuvraj (50*) and Dravid (44*) took India to a well deserved win over the arch rivals and kept their unbeaten runs against them intact.

Watch Sachin Tendulkar hitting that iconic six to Shoaib Akhtar here:

 

 
 

By Jatin Sharma - 01 Mar, 2018

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