Sachin Tendulkar picked his favourite ODI innings and the moment that stands out the most for him from his 25-year-long international career. As India are set to play their 1000th ODI, it is only fitting that the great Sachin Tendulkar shared his insights on the momentous occasion.
No one has been as prolific for India in one-day internationals than Sachin Tendulkar whose ODI record is the best among all batsmen in ODIs- 18426 runs, an average of 44.88, 49 centuries and the highest score of 200 not out. Sachin Tendulkar is almost a synonym for India in ODIs, having featured in the country’s 200th, 300th, 400th, 500th, 600th, 700th and 800th matches.
Sachin Tendulkar: Nothing Beats The ‘ Best Cricketing Day Of Life’ Winning World Cup Final 2011
For a career as glittering as Sachin Tendulkar’s, it can be tricky to pick the top two accomplishments he achieved during his 25-year-run at the top. Yet, Sachin Tendulkar picked out two moments that stand out the most. For someone who owns almost all batting records in the world, his biggest highlight is not an individual achievement.
“Nothing beats the World Cup final in 2011. That was the best cricketing day of my life. That’s what you play for. I had the honour and privilege to represent the country for 24 years and had the honour of lifting the trophy on behalf of a billion-plus people.
“So, I always feel that it is not just a few individuals, but the entire 1.39 billion-plus population has played their role in bringing the trophy to our dressing room. It belongs to a billion-plus people,” Tendulkar said.
Sachin Tendulkar who was part of the 2011 World Cup-winning squad said he would love to see one more trophy in the cabinet. Back in 2011, India sealed the World Cup for the first time after a hiatus of 28 years. MS Dhoni launched a six towards long-on against Sri Lanka to seal India’s World Cup at the Wankhede back in 2011.
It’s tough to pick the best ODI innings from the 98 against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup, the twin centuries against Sharjah in the famous ‘desert storm’ innings, the heart-breaking 175 against Australia in a losing cause at Hyderabad in 2009, besides the remaining 46 ODI centuries he has scored.
Surely, it must be tough for Sachin Tendulkar himself to pick one knock that stands head and shoulder above the rest. Sachin Tendulkar regards the first 200 which he scored against South Africa as the finest.
“The first 200 in the ODI that I scored against South Africa (in Gwalior in 2010) is one of my top ODI innings. Their bowling attack was very good, and they were a very good opposition. That was the first time in the history of ODIs someone scored 200 runs, so that has its own relevance,” the Master Blaster said.
Ahead of the landmark 1000th ODI against West Indies, Sachin Tendulkar wished the Indian team all the best.
“The Indian team will be playing against the West Indies, which is a decent team. So, one would have to put the best foot forward and play good cricket. I would like to wish the Indian cricket team best of luck for the series,” he said.
Sachin Tendulkar featured in 463 ODIs between 1989 and 2012 and witnessed several milestone moments in Indian cricket. The first 200 in the ODI that he scored against South Africa (in Gwalior in 2010) is one of his top ODI innings. Their bowling attack was very good, and they were a very good opposition. That was the first time in the history of ODIs someone scored 200 runs, so that has its own relevance.
Rohit Sharma has scored two double hundreds against Sri Lanka and one against Australia in the ODIs. The right-handed batsman is the only cricketer to smash three double centuries in ODI history.