Reliving Sachin Tendulkar's Test hundreds: Centuries 11-15

Sachin Tendulkar is, undoubtedly, one of the greatest players to have played cricket. The Master Blaster, as he is famously called, has innumerable records to his name including that of being the only batsman to have scored 100 international centuries in the history of the game.

In a career that spanned over 24 glorious years, Tendulkar played numerous memorable knocks. As a part of this epic saga of reliving all of his brilliant Test centuries, let us take a look at centuries 11-15 of the batting maestro in the premier format of the game.

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#5: 11th Century - 169 against South Africa at Cape Town, 1997

Trailing South by 0-1 in the three-match Test series on the South African Tour in 1997, India entered the second Test at Cape Town desperate for a win. South Africa won the toss and chose to bat first on a pitch that had plenty of runs on offer. The Proteas posted a daunting 529 in their first innings and set a huge task ahead of the Indians.

After coming out to bat, India were rocked by successive wickets. While Tendulkar looked in sublime touch at one end, other batsmen had no clue on how to negotiate the South African quicks. The visitors were soon found reeling at 58-5 before he was joined by Mohammed Azharuddin at the crease.

Tendulkar, who looked determined to play a captain's knock, impressed one and all with some exquisite stroke play. The Mumbaikar ended up scoring 169 runs that included 26 boundaries. His 254-ball knock consisted of copybook straight drives, stunning cover drives, skillful cuts and pulls. In fact, former South African cricketer Ali Bacher described this knock as of the greatest of all time. The match was also graced by the presence of Nelson Mandela.

India, however, couldn't manage to put up a fight in the second innings and lost by a huge margin of 282 runs.

#4: 12th Century - 143 against Sri Lanka at Colombo (R Premadasa), 1997

Tendulkar scored a classy 143 against the Lankans at Premadasa in 1997

India's first Test on their tour of Sri Lanka in 1997 is probably one of the most famous Test matches. The game is still remembered for Sri Lanka's record-breaking inning total of 952-8 in their first innings.

India won the toss and elected to bat first wanting to put up a big score in conditions that were batsman-friendly. The Indian batsmen put up a decent show as they managed to up an impressive 537-8 on the board before declaring. Tendulkar, with his classy 143, emerged as the team's highest scorer of the innings. The batsman looked at ease and led the team from the front on his course of this wonderful knock that was studded with 20 masterful boundaries.

This effort was, however, overshadowed by Sanath Jayasuriya's historic 340 as Sri Lanka mauled the Indian bowling attack to score a mammoth 952-8. The match, as can be expected, ended in a draw.

#3: 13th Century - 139 against Sri Lanka at Colombo (SSC), 1997

Tendulkar scored his second century in the series

After winning the toss and choosing to field first India bundled out Sri Lanka for 332 in the first innings of the second Test on their 1997 Lankan tour. Coming out to bat with a determined mindset of getting big first innings lead, India was rocked by two early wickets before Tendulkar arrived at the crease.The man once again shouldered the responsibility and led the team from the from the front with a fine hundred.

Muttiah Muralitharan, who seemed to be in great form, demanded high levels of batting proficiency to negotiate his wily off-breaks. The Master Blaster proved his genius as he applied great skill an technique to come out triumphant. His gritty knock of 139 from 266 deliveries and comprised of 16 boundaries, ensured that India put up a decent first innings total. India put up a spirited show in their second innings to secure a draw.

#2: 14th Century - 148 against Sri Lanka at Mumbai, 1997

Tendulkar was involved in an epic partnership with Sourav Ganguly

The crowd at Wankhede Stadium were in for something special from the local boy during the third Test of India Sri Lanka Test series in 1997. Arjuna Ranatunga put in India to bat first after winning the toss. Tendulkar joined Rahul Dravid at the crease after the departure of Navjot Singh Sidhu. The local hero, along with Dravid, ensured that Sri Lanka did not tighten their grip by getting another wicket.

Tendulkar played a pivotal role in helping India set a huge first innings score of 512. After entertaining the crowd with some stunning stroke-play, the Little Master once again returned to the pavilion with a 244-ball 148 that was studded with 20 beautiful fours and 3 massive sixes. At the end of five exciting days of Test cricket, the match ended in a draw as Sri Lanka managed to survive their second innings stretch.

#1: 15th Century - 155 against Australia at Chennai, 1998

Tendulkar's 155 in Chennai in 1998 is one of his most famous knocks

The first Test between India and Australia in Chennai in 1998 is one of the most famous games in Indian cricketing history. Many cricket fans all across the world eagerly awaited the much-talked clash between Shane Warne and Tendulkar in what seemed to be a battle for supremacy.

India's Mohammed Azharuddin won the toss and elected to bat first on a hot day in Chennai. Tendulkar succumbed to the wiliness of Warne as India managed a modest 257 in their first innings. The hosts, who were trailing by 71 runs, had their tasks cut out when they came out to bat in the second innings. After the loss of the second wicket at 115, the Little Master joined Rahul Dravid at the crease and what followed was something special.

Tendulkar took on the Aussie bowling attack right from the word go. He unleashed himself as he demolished the bowlers with some blistering stroke-play. Shane Warne too was taken to the cleaners as the batting maestro looked unstoppable.

His brilliant innings of 155*, that came off just 191 deliveries and included 14 boundaries and 4 sixes, ensured that India gather a massive second innings lead and go on to register one of their sweetest Test victories.