On This Day in 1995, When Sachin Tendulkar Batted Like A Ferrari En-route To His 4th ODI Ton

It is fair to say that Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar and the month of April is a love story made in heaven. In the 24 glittering years of his career, the cricketing genius enthralled folklore with a plethora of unforgettable innings.

Who can forget his back-to-back exploits against the Australians in the 1998 Coca Cola Cup in Sharjah when he batted as a man possessed? But, I am not here to write about that as millions of words have already been written on those two knocks over the years. I’m here to rewind the clock back to 09 April 1995, as it was on this very day 25 years ago that the Master Blaster not only became the youngest-ever to notch up 3000 ODI runs but it was also a day where Tendulkar gave a glimpse of what was to follow in the years to follow, albeit at the expense of the hapless Sri Lankans.

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India vs Sri Lanka, Or rather Sachin vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup 1995. Sharjah.

Okay! Tell me what is that one thing that differentiates a good player from a champion player? Is it the nonchalance with which he hits his strokes? Or is it the ridiculous ease with which he approaches adverse situations and conditions? Champions have remarkable ways to respond to adversity. It tends to bring out a beast in them. And, we saw that to the hilt when Tendulkar shellacked the Sri Lankans to the tune of 112 on that April day in 1995.

Batting first, Sri Lanka had huffed and puffed their way to 9-202 in 50 overs on what looked like a pretty slow wicket. Unless of-course Tendulkar marked his guard. On a track where the Sri Lankan batsmen batted like they were riding a bullock cart, Tendulkar made it look like he was driving a Ferrari on a highway.

Tendulkar’s first boundary off Janak Gamage- a nonchalant straight-drive- was a sign of things to follow. Gamage, just like the other Sri Lankan bowlers were made to look, pedestrian. Every time he pitched it up, Tendulkar would either drive him in the ‘V’ or through the covers. Every time he pitched short, he would rock on to his back foot and pull him behind square or towards midwicket.

Chaminda Vaas wasn’t spared either. Like Gamage, Tendulkar unleashed his precocious drives in the ‘V’ against the left-arm fast bowler who was working up a good pace. Ruffled by the onslaught, Vaas changed his angle but the result was the same. Tendulkar would use his supple wrists to hit him behind square, forcing him to overcompensate. And, once Vaas overcompensated by pitching it fully, he was meted out with the Master’s trademark lofted on-drive.

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Sachin Tendulkar’s carpet-like drives was a feature of his 107-ball 112

Tendulkar brought up his half-century with  a nudge on the on-side off Sanath Jayasuriya and with him not looking in any mood to stop, skipper Arjuna Ranatunga resorted to his slow bowlers in Champaka Ramanayake, Aravinda de Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Kumar Dharmasena. But, to the utter dismay of the Lankans, nothing changed.

The Tendulkar-Prabhakar alliance was motoring along as they smashed 143 runs in a mere 25 overs. Tendulkar was on a rampage. It was one of those days when nothing could stop him. He was equally brutal against the spinners. Ask Sanath Jayasuriya, who was carted for a straight six before being swept past short fine-leg for another boundary.

The moment that every Indian fan had been waiting for finally came off the bowling of Vaas when Sachin dabbed the ball past point. It was Tendulkar’s fourth ODI hundred and such was the brilliance of the knock that even Arjuna Ranatunga couldn’t control himself from joining the crowd in appreciation.

And, as if the hundred wasn’t enough, Tendulkar further rubbed salt into the Lankan wounds by smashing Vaas for 18 runs in that very over. With the scores level, Tendulkar stroked the last of his 15 pristine boundaries off Ramanayake to help India notch up an imperious eight-wicket win.

The Sri Lankans had come into the game aiming for a win, but by the time the match trudged to its end, all they could do is applaud the brilliance of a player who was at the height of his powers.