There can only be one Sachin Tendulkar. The Master Blaster has been the best in the game, not only on the crease but also with his skill to perform as a fair player. He would walk out of the ground in case he was rightly caught even if the umpire may not call him out. Such was the class of this cricketer. At an impressive 2278 runs in 45 matches during six editions of the cricket world cup tournament, he did it at an average of 56.95 with 6 hundred and 15 fifties.
Whether it be his emotional 100 against Kenya in Bristol during 1999 WC when he lost his father or 98 against Pakistan during 2003 WC he has shown nerves of steel. Even his age couldn’t keep him down as he scored 120-runs against England during the 2011 World cup.
While these are some memorable moments, let’s look at 4 moments when he was denied a century by a spinner during the biggest tournament in the game:
#4 81(91 balls) vs Zimbabwe (2003 World Cup)
The innings was filled with shots across the ground, and it looked like The Master Blaster would make his way through to score a century, until Grant Flower decided to bowl. The left-arm spin from the ace bowler pitched on middle stump, turned, and after bouncing a little more than anyone expected hit his off stump. The amazing innings of 81 came to an end and with it the hopes of being a centurion during the match.
#3 83(101 balls) vs Kenya (2003 World Cup)
2003 World Cup was when The Little Master was in phenomenal form, and his knock against Kenya helped the Men in Blue to put forth a commendable total of 270/4 on the board. The opener was dismantling his opposition until at 83 he pulled a short delivery from then Kenya skipper Steve Tikolo into the hands of deep mid-wicket. This was another opportunity of scoring a ton thrown up in the air.
#2 85(115 Balls) vs Pakistan (2011 World Cup)
Sachin Tendulkar got multiple opportunities during the match. From a close LBW call to stumping, and the catch being dropped twice, the God of Cricket was constantly getting opportunities to go for the ton.
Despite the aforementioned opportunities, he fell to Saeed Ajmal’s off-spin over-pitched delivery straight to the hands of Shahid Afridi at cover. The 85 run knock helped India score 260 runs and win the match by 29 runs. This helped the Men in Blue move to the finals of the World Cup.
#1 97(120 Balls) vs Sri Lanka (2003 World Cup)
After hitting Chaminda Vaas over cover and Fernando over the third man for a six, it looked as if Sachin would make it through to a comfortable hundred. In came Aravinda de Silva to bowl, and nervous nineties took a toll on the cricketing legend who in an attempt to hit a paddle sweep hit a leading edge and the ball landed safely into Kumar Sangakkara’s gloves.
क्रिकेट वर्ल्ड कप 2019 की ब्रेकिंग न्यूज़, लाइव स्कोर, अंक तालिका, टाइम टेबल, अपडेट स्पोर्ट्सकीड़ा हिंदी पर पाएं