On This Day 28 Years Ago: Sachin Tendulkar Makes His International Debut

Touted as arguably the greatest ever batsman to have graced the game of cricket, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar made his international debut on this very day 28 years day ago, and the day is regarded as one of the most historic days in the Indian cricket Calendar. His first series against Pakistan was enough for the pundits to realise that he was a man from a different planet.

In his first Test at Karachi, Tendulkar could only manage 15 as he soon realised that international cricket was in a different league altogether. He recalls in his Autobiography “Playing it My Way” that how the whole world went upside down for him as he felt it was the end of the road for him in international cricket and it was the last time he was representing India.

However the captain of India during that tour, Krishnamachari Srikanth gave Tendulkar the confidence to express himself, and he didn’t disappoint in the 2^nd Test by scoring his maiden Test half-century at Faisalabad. He occupied the crease for 172 deliveries for his 59 which included four boundaries. He looked unfazed by the likes of some fastest bowlers and drove and cut them to perfection.

Tendulkar looked in good touch during the only innings at Lahore and scored 41 of 90 deliveries which included five fours. The “Little Master” went on to smash his 2^nd half-century of his career in the final Test at Sialkot and helped India save the match and the series on the final day of the match. He shared a century partnership with Manoj Prabhakar which eventually helped India draw the series.

Courtesy his impressive showing in the Test series, Tendulkar was drafted in the squad for the following ODI series. The opening ODI in Peshawar which was scheduled to be a 50 overs affair was abandoned due to persistent rains before the match, but as a huge crowd had gathered in the stadium, the authorities decided to arrange a 20 over exhibition game between the two sides to give some entertainment to the large crowd.

It was Tendulkar who smashed the legendary Abdul Qadir for three sixes and Mushtaq Ahmed for four sixes in the same over to race his way to a brilliant half-century in 17 deliveries. It was carnage on display by the 16-year-old, and the Pakistan crowd witnessed a child prodigy smash arguably the greatest leg-spinner during his time to all corners of the ground.

Qadir himself recalls that in his whole cricketing career including his first-class and international career he doesn’t remember a batsman smashing him for three sixes in a single over. He revealed that innings was enough to give an indication that the “kid prodigy” was destined for greatness.