Sachin Tendulkar's five best Test knocks vs Australia in India

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Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar looks : News Photo
The greatest Indian batsman of all time

The Australian cricket team was invincible for the majority of the 90s and the dawn of the 21st century. If the team under Steve Waugh made winning a habit, the one under Ricky Ponting became simply unstoppable.

They were ruthless and aggressive in their approach. The oppositions perished against the most fearsome bowling attack since, perhaps the West Indies of the 70s. In all these years, no team could match up to the mighty Aussies. Yet, one cricketer defied them absolute dominion. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

Also read: Sachin Tendulkar's top 7 knocks outside India

The following are his greatest knocks against Australia in India. Each of these innings is not only a testament to his brilliance but also thematic enough to find its place in the history books.


#5 109, Nagpur, 2008-09

Towards the end of the first decade of this century, Australia lost some major players including Gilchrist, McGrath, and Warne but continued to maintain a consistent winning record. The Border-Gavaskar series of 2008-09 was different, though.

India headed into the final match of the four-match series leading 1-0. After a frenetic run-a-ball 66 by Sehwag, Ricky Ponting’s team scrapped back with wickets at regular intervals to keep the hosts under control in the first innings.

Stability came in the form of Sachin and Laxman, who batted through some spirited bowling to put India in a dominant position by the end of day’s play. Tendulkar’s 40th Test century consisted of all his trademark shots – the sublime flicks to square leg, the controlled back foot drives and effortless cuts. India went on to win the game by 172 runs and the series 2-0.

#4 126, Chennai, 2000-01

India v Aust X : News Photo
Sachin battled his way to an impressive 126

The Border-Gavaskar trophy of 2001 was perhaps one of the greatest triumphs of an underdog in the history of sport. After losing the first Test clinically, team India broke numerous records by winning the second Test after being forced to follow-on.

Australia began the third Test on a positive note by posting a total of 391 buoyed by Hayden’s double century. It was a high stakes game and the little master delivered with an impressive 126.

Tendulkar brought all his experience into the game as he built useful partnerships with Laxman, Ganguly and Dravid which helped India post a first innings total of 501. Though Harbhajan was the star of that game, Sachin’s innings, which set up the precious advantage, cannot be undermined.

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#3 177, Bangalore, 1997-98

Sachin waged a lone war against the Aussie pacers

This match was reminiscent of the days when Sachin waged a lone battle against opposition and more often than not, India ended up losing. Having won the series already, India headed to Bangalore for the final Test.

Everything seemed to be going right for India as they won the toss, elected to bat and went on to post a huge first innings total of 424. It was fueled by an aggressive 177 by Sachin off just 207 balls. He continued his majestic form from the previous match and struck 29 fours and three sixes and did not allow Australia’s key bowlers to settle down.

It was little wonder that he scored 177 runs out of the 281 added while he was at the crease.

Once he departed, what followed was a dramatic change in the dynamics of the game as India ended up losing by eight wickets. It bore testament to the household stereotype of the Indian cricket team of the late 90s – If Sachin falls, we turn off the television.

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#2 214, Bangalore, 2010-11

India's Sachin Tendulkar plays a shot du : News Photo
Sachin was absolutely unstoppable

During the 2010-11 Australian tour of India, at the age of 37, Tendulkar proved to the world that he was still the best in business. After Australia posted a formidable 478 in their first innings, they had no reason to believe they would end up losing the game.

The little master came in to bat when India was reeling at 38/2. Along with Murali Vijay, he stabilised the innings and then started dominating the bowlers one by one. Together, they added a little more than 300 runs for the third wicket as the Aussies were left wondering what had hit them.

His innings was fluent with just two sixes and 22 fours. Later, he ensured that India reached the target of 207 set by Australia with an unbeaten 53. He was declared both the Man of the Match and the Man of the Series.

#1 155*, Chennai, 1997-98

Border-Gavaskar Trophy First Test: India v Australia : News Photo
The bowlers simply had no answer for the Little Master

Warne is arguably Sachin’s greatest rival. It did not take long for him to become one of his biggest admirers. Their rivalry was the stuff of legends. The cunning genius versus the little master. Aggression versus humility. The Joker versus the Batman. It was a battle between equals. But one fine day in 1998, for a brief time, Sachin killed the contest definitively.

Warne won the first round when he got Tendulkar cheaply in the first innings. India was trailing by 71 runs when they came out to bat again. What happened next was a dominion unheard of against the strongest bowling attack at that time.

Sachin drove, cut and pulled mercilessly. It did not matter if it was with or against the spin. He went on to score a breathtaking 155 at an impressive strike rate of 81.

We should remember that these were the 90s. Back then, such a strike rate was gold in ODIs, but in a Test match, it resulted in batting Australia out of the game. India went on to win the game by 179 runs and that dominant innings set up a series win eventually.

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Test cricket has moved on since the days of Australian invincibility but I do wonder at times, if we will ever see those days again. One thing is certain, though. We might witness teams rising to mighty heights or falling to dismal depths, but we will never experience another Sachin.

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Edited by Staff Editor