Sachin Tendulkar's ODI centuries (No.21 to No.26)

Fondly called the God of Cricket, he was the first player to score 200 in ODI.At an age when most of his friends pondered about Class X results, Sachin Tendulkar was thinking about the dealing with players almost twice his age. Class - exuberance - resilient - compose - adept and the list of adjectives describing Tendulkar is limitless.

Such was the stature of the batsman who left no stones unturned in his distinct and long career. However, in the last 1990s, the Tendulkar witnesses by the cricketing fraternity was utterly terrifying.

Long before the inception of T20 cricket, Tendulkar knew who to threaten the bowlers with extreme aggression and capitalize on their weaknesses. The man feared none and in the ODIs he was simply next to being unstoppable.

During the second half of the 1990s, Tendulkar slammed a flabbergasting 34 centuries. Amongst these, a massive 20 of them came in the then shortest format of the game - ODI.

Let's take a look at Tendulkar's century #21 to #26:

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#1 ODI Century number 21 - 13th November 1998, Sharjah v/s Zimbabwe (124*)

In what had already transpired to be an exciting and glamorous series, the final of the Coco-Cola Champions Trophy took place in Sharjah and Zimbabwe having lost the toss were put into bat first.

Zimbabwe was bundled out for just 196 and India needed 197 for the series triumph. Out walked Tendulkar and Ganguly with the latter happy to play the spectator's role once Tendulkar got going.

Tendulkar smashed an unbeaten 124 comprising of 12 fours and 4 sixes and en route the Zimbabwe bowlers were demolished to the ground. India romped home by 10 wickets and Tendulkar picked up the Man of the Match award as well.

This inning has managed to go deep into the memories of Indian fans for the swashbuckling batting style by Tendulkar.

#2 ODI Century number 22 - 23rd May 1999, Bristol v/s Kenya (140*)

This ton will stay in the minds of cricket lovers probably forever. Just days before the group stage encounter against Kenya, Tendulkar's father had passed away. Yet, the man of steel opted to play the game and Tendulkar himself has asserted that it was one of the most memorable centuries.

India was put into bat and was two down at 92 when the demi-god walked into the middle. Right from the word go, Tendulkar charged the Kenyan bowlers and brought up his century in no time.

Tendulkar made an unbeaten 140 consisting of 16 fours and 4 sixes. He ripped apart the bowling attack and stitched a hemorrhaging partnership of 237 runs with Rahul Dravid who also went on to score a century as eventually, India won the match by 92 runs.

#3 ODI Century number 23 - 29th August 1999, Colombo v/s Sri Lanka (120)

Having lost the first three encounters of the Aiwa Cup tri-series, the final round-robin game against Sri Lanka was a dead rubber.

It was Tendulkar's second stint as a captain and things hadn't gone too well for him till then. But despite nursing a back-injury the Little Master batted cautiously and gradually brought up his ton to lead India to a strong score of 296.

En route to his century, Tendulkar thrashed Muttaiah Muralitharan for a biggie and throughout the game, he never let the off-spinner settle. India eventually won the match by 23 runs(D/L method).

#4 ODI Century number 24 - 8th November 1999, Hyderabad v/s New Zealand (186*)

It was the second ODI of the series and India having lost the first ODI were rearing to go. After winning the toss, Tendulkar opted to bat first and made the most of the batsmen's palace on offer.

Ganguly was caught in a mix-up and India lost their first wicket for just 10 on board. But the mighty partnership of Dravid and Tendulkar of a mammoth 331 runs and the duo wrecked havoc in the New Zealand camp.

Tendulkar in specific blasted the ball to all parts of the ground and raced to his century. His unbeaten score of 186 remained his best score in ODI for a really long time. The special knock comprised of 20 elegant fours along with 3 sixes.

India crushed New Zealand by a mammoth 174 runs and Tendulkar undoubtedly picked up the Man of the Match Award.

#5 ODI Century number 25 - 17th March 2000, Vadodara v/s South Africa (122)

This game is remembered as one of the greatest nail-biting encounters of all time. The Proteas won the toss and opted to bat first and posted a solid total of 282.

Chasing 283 to win, openers Ganguly and Tendulkar approach was a blend of calculation and aggression. While Ganguly was the aggressor, throughout the game, Tendulkar was the driver who played a watchful inning.

Tendulkar drifted away from the attacking role and played an exquisite inning without a single six. However, he added 12 fours en route his ton and also collected the MoM award after India won by 4 wickets in the penultimate ball of the match.

Without Tendulkar's nonchalant approach, India simply couldn't have levelled the series in the Hyderabad ODI.