I Have Never Seen Him Play Like That Before: Inzamam-Ul-Haq Opens Up On Sachin Tendulkar's Best Knock

Former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-Ul-Haq and Sachin Tendulkar have battled with one another numerous times in their illustrious careers. It is a well-known fact that Sachin Tendulkar and Inzamam-Ul-Haq had an insatiable appetite for runs and scored a truckload of runs against each other’s team. But the pair held immense respect for each and the Pakistani counterpart has picked the best innings played by Sachin against them.

It was Sachin Tendulkar’s 98 against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup game that impressed Inzamam-Ul-Haq the most. Sachin Tendulkar looked in full flow in that innings, pouncing on the much-vaunted bowling attack that Pakistan boasted while chasing 274 in Centurion. The 47-year old’s 75-ball knock consisted of 12 fours and a six that he hit off Shoaib Akhtar over point, which is considered one of the best shots of all time.

Ravichandran Ashwin, who hosted Inzamam-Ul-Haq in his Youtube channel, asked whether Pakistan felt they put a considerable total at the half-way mark against India in the 2003 World Cup. Ashwin revealed also asking Tendulkar whether he believed the score was chasable.

“I have asked the same question Sachin paaji but I want to ask you now. In the 2003 World Cup game India and Pakistan, Pakistan had posted a huge score. Saeed Anwar scored a century but after that Sehwag and Sachin played well and India won the match. At the halfway mark did you believe that you have enough to win the match or was the score under par?,” the 34-year old Indian off-spinner asked.

He played a top-quality innings against genuine quality fast bowlers like ours: Inzamam-Ul-Haq

Inzamam-Ul-Haq responded that the conditions at Centurion supported fast bowlers and with Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar in their ranks, Pakistan felt they had an excellent total. However, the former Pakistan chief selector said that Sachin was batting in a world of his own that day and the way he handled the pacemen was commendable.

“Our bowling line-up consisted of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar and the conditions were favouring the fast bowlers. The match was being played at Centurion in South Africa. So we felt that we had put up a pretty good score. I have seen Sachin play a lot but the way he batted in that match; I have never seen him play like that before. The way he played against our fast bowlers in those conditions was superb. I think he scored 98 before getting out to Shoaib Akhtar,” Inzamam told Ashwin.

The 120-Test veteran elaborated that it was the batting maestro’s best innings where he relieved all the pressure in a steep run-chase. Inzamam added that the crisp boundaries Sachin hit also released the pressure off the rest of the batsmen and that the Indian batsman would also feel it was his best knock.

“I feel that was Sachin’s best innings. He broke all the pressure. He played a top-quality innings against genuine quality fast bowlers like ours. The way he hit those boundaries, the pressure got released on the batsmen who came after him. If someone were to ask Sachin, he too would absolutely love that innings of his,” the 50-year old added.

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