Sachin Tendulkar Birthday Specials: Most memorable knocks in ODIs

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, who became the world's finest batsman, was an inspiration for millions of people all around the globe.

Every time Sachin stepped out to bat, he was always accompanied by all the cricket fans and carried the expectations of the fans. In the ODI format, Sachin scored 49 centuries and was the first player to score 10,000 runs.

On Tendulkar's 45th birthday, let us relieve some of his greatest ODI knocks he has played for India.

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#6 143 vs Australia (1998)

This was one of the greatest ODI innings which cricket fans will never forget for a long time

This was the last league match of the Coca-Cola Triangular series between Australia and India. Aussies had already qualified for the finals, and India needed to either win the match or have better run-rate than the Kiwis to make the grade.

Aussies had scored 284 runs in 50 overs, and Indian team needed a herculean effort from someone to overcome this stiff target. Sachin started off on a positive note and looked in good touch.

After the sandstorm interrupted the play, India required 276 in 46 overs to win and 237 to qualify. Once the match was resumed Sachin straightway took the bowlers to the cleaners, and played an incredible knock of 143 off 131 balls.

Despite losing the match, India qualified for the finals with the better run rate. This knock was famously scripted as 'Sandstorm' innings for his single-handed effort.

#5 186* vs New Zealand (1999)

Sachin looked in ominous form during his unbeaten knock of 186 against the Kiwis

Two centuries in three Tests against New Zealand was not enough for Sachin, as he went on to score another century in the One Day series.

After losing the first ODI against the Kiwis, Sachin came all guns blazing in the second ODI and scored 186 which was his highest ODI score at that point.

It was a treat for Sachin fans as he plundered boundary after boundary, beating and bashing the bowling into submission. At one point, it looked like Sachin will score 200 but unfortunately, he fell short by 14 runs. Little did he know that he will score 200 after 11 years.

#4 98 vs Pakistan (2003)

Sachin scripted a memorable win for Indian team against Pakistan in World Cup 2003

This was the most anticipated World Cup match between the arch-rivals, India and Pakistan in 2003. Pakistan batted first and posted a daunting total of 273. It was an uphill task against the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar.

Sachin was determined to win and started off on a positive note. It was the second over of the Indian innings which defined the match after Sachin clobbered Shoaib for 18 runs in an over.

Sachin looked in great touch and anchored the chase beautifully. He scored a match-winning 98 and India won the encounter by 6 wickets. He himself declared this innings as the best ODI knock he has ever played.

#3 117* vs Australia (2008)

Sachin scored first ODI century on Australian soil in first CB series final

It was the first final of the CB series between India and Australia. After winning the toss, Australia batted first at the Sydney ground and posted 239 runs in 50 overs.

Though it was not a daunting score but against the mighty Aussies in their own backyard, India needed a special performance to pull out a victory. Sachin, who was struggling with his form in the series, started off well and looked in great touch.

Sachin scored an unbeaten century and won the first finals by 6 wickets. This knock was special in many ways as he scored a century in the finals after 10 long years and India took the lead of 1-0 in three-match finals.

#2 175 vs Australia (2009)

Sachin batted brilliantly and almost pulled off a miraculous chase against the Aussies

The ODI series between India and Australia in 2009 was the one of the most hard-fought series. This was the fifth match in Hyderabad as the series was leveled at 2-2.

Australia scored 348 runs in 50 overs, and it nearly seemed an impossible chase for the Indian team. Sachin started hammering the Aussie bowlers all over the park and plundered boundaries.

Sachin, who looked in an ominous touch, brought up his 45th ODI century off 81 balls. He was determined to win this match for India and built a crucial partnership with Raina.

India needed 19 off 18 balls and with Sachin at the crease, it seemed like an easy chase. But he was dismissed for 175 runs off 141 balls in 48th over as India lost the match by 3 runs only

#1 200* vs South Africa (2010)

Sachin played an incredible inning against the strong South African bowling line-up

The ODI series between South Africa and India in 2010 was much anticipated after hard-fought Test series between the two teams. India won the first ODI and took a lead of 1-0.

In the second ODI, Dhoni won the toss and opted to bat first. Sachin looked in sublime touch right from the start and played shots all over the park. He scored the century off 90 balls in the 28th over itself and looked in no mood to give it up easily.

Sachin continued plundering runs and brought up his 150 off 118 balls. Just when he crossed 175, everyone anticipated the much awaited double century. He then went past the world record of 194 in the 46th over.

Finally, in the 50th over, Sachin crossed the landmark of a double century as Ravi Shastri righty concluded in the commentary "Gets it. The first man on the planet to reach 200 and it's the Superman from India -Sachin Tendulkar 200 from 147. Take a bow master."