Sachin Tendulkar ranks 98 vs Pak in WC one of his finest moments

Mumbai: India's batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar today rated his blistering 75-ball knock of 98 against arch-rivals Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup at Centurion as one of the most memorable innings of his life

"I remember a few innings and important among them is the innings against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup. We won that match (by 6 wickets)," said Tendulkar who walked down memory lane here today to celebrate his20 years in international cricket.

Tendulkar made his international debut in the first Test against Pakistan at Karachi on November 15, 1989 and it was on the same tour that he made his debut in ODIs too before going on to set world records in both formats.

Emphasising that earning his first India cap is the most cherished moment of his glittering career, Tendulkar mentioned a knock of 59 in his second Test at Faisalabad against Pakistan as the turning point in his career as that knock gave him self-belief that he belonged in the highest league.

"20 years is a long time and I have many special moments and it would be difficult to count them. But the first one (Test), the first day walking out in the playing XI in Pakistan probably was the greatest moment," he said.

"In the second Test at Faisalabad I made 58 or 59. It was the turning point in my career as I felt confident after that innings that I belonged at this level after not doing well in the first Test," he said.Asked how he maintained his passionor the game after playing for so long, Tendulkar said it came naturally to him.

"Cricket lives in my heart. I enjoy playing cricket. I have not made any special effort (to be passionate). I enjoy every moment of the game," said the batsman who has scored the most number of runs and centuries in Tests and ODIs.

"Playing for the country was my childhood dream and I have fulfilled my dream. I am fortunate to have played for my country for so many years," he said.

Tendulkar maintained that he always wants to celebrate team victories than individual glory if the latter did not lead to India triumphing.

"You feel bad (if team loses) even if I had done well. I play for the team. Even if you have not contributed when the team has done well you want to jump in joy," he put it.

Asked what changes have occurred in the game in the 20 years of his career, Tendulkar picked the advent of Twenty20, assistance of technology for umpiring decisions and batting innovations as the major changes that have taken place.

"From 1989, plenty of things have happened and the the game has changed a lot with the introduction of the third umpire and Hot Spot system to the introduction of Twenty20", he said.

Sachin is the greatest in the modern era: Sangakkara

Mumbai, Sun, Nov 08 2009

Sangakkara lavished praise on Sachin Tendulkar, calling the Indian the "greatest player of the modern era"

Visiting Sri Lankan team skipper Kumar Sangakkara today lavished praise on Sachin Tendulkar, who would be completing 20 years in international cricket on November 15, calling the Indian the "greatest player of the modern era".

"He (Tendulkar) has been brilliant. To have survived the tough test of public expectation in India is something, which should be commended. The runs are an added bonus. He's probably the greatest player to play the game in the modern era and compares with the Bradmans and all the legends of the past," Sangakkara said.

"We run out of superlatives when talking about Sachin. He keeps getting better and better. Being that consistent under such pressure (from fans), especially at home is a wonderful thing," the Lankan captain and one-down batsman gushed.

Asked about any game plan his team had in the upcoming three-Test rubber to contain the master batsman, Sangakkara gave a wry smile and said there can be plans but that may not work always against Tendulkar.

"A lot of people have game plan (for Tendulkar). We have to see what works. When a batsman is scoring runs and doing the way Sachin is doing he will be a threat to any team. It's nothing new. I have been ans

Sachin's mind is still strong : Ian Chapell

Ian Chappell's column : cricinfo

On a couple of balmy nights in Sharjah in 1998,Sachin Tendulkar carved out successive scintillating centuries against Australia to convince those of the men in gold who weren't believers that he was the best batsman in the world.

More than a decade later Tendulkar has converted a whole new set of Australian non-believers with a mercurial ODI century in Hyderabad. Well, that's actually not quite true. Ricky Ponting was in attendance in Sharjah, and for him Tendulkar just reconfirmed his great skill and tenacity.

As the opposing captain, Ponting was constantly plotting Tendulkar's downfall in Hyderabad, and it came in the nick of time to seal an Australian victory that for a time looked like it would be snatched away by one man. As the third, along with West Indies' champion Brian Lara, in what was a three-way battle for the batting crown, Ponting would've appreciated, if not welcomed, Tendulkar's mastery.

One of the more amazing things about Lara was his remarkable feat in recapturing the world record 10 years after he first established the high-water mark. Longevity isn't the hallmark of greatness but it's a requirement.

Not that Tendulkar needed another century to convince anyone of his prowess, but a masterful knock like the Hyderabad one was a timely reminder that he still has a few great innings left. That's the main difference between the Tendulkar of today and a decade ago.

In Sharjah he belted the Australian bowlers all over the park to get his team into the final, and then followed it up two days later with an equally dynamic showing to win the big prize. Now the hard part will be reprising his starring role in Guwahati when his body is still recovering from Hyderabad.

Tendulkar did prove one thing in Hyderabad: the mind is still willing. He displayed the same fighting spirit that was evident in Sharjah, the same desire to trump the opposition, and amazingly, his strike rate was better than in both of those 1998 gems. "I can't concentrate like I used to," I recall Greg Chappell saying near the end of his illustrious career. "I can still apply myself occasionally, but other days it's just a battle." And he was a strong-minded batsman.

Tendulkar is a strong-minded person but that isn't what defines his batting. His is more a mercurial attitude that allows him to sense the moment when to let loose his full array of shots and leave the bowlers clutching at straws. Straws that in his pomp were whisked away by a whirlwind of shots.

	Tendulkar's is a mercurial attitude that allows him to sense the moment when to let loose his full array of shots and leave the bowlers clutching at straws caption:

In recent times Tendulkar's batting has gained a mortal quality. He often has to battle and graft for runs, like a 40-average batsman. The fact that even in that mode he still churns out centuries, like a press printing 10-rupee notes, is a testament to his greatness. However, occasionally all the magic returns and on that day he can light up a cricket ground, the way he did in Hyderabad. The cover drive flows, the flick off the pads races to the boundary and the short-of-a-length delivery is punched off the back foot, while fieldsmen are left grasping at fresh air.

In batting maturity Tendulkar resorts to more deft deflections and little glides to third man but they are as much about resting tiring muscles at the non-striker's end as any concession to the bowlers' ability. He's also moved with the times and is now more likely to upper-cut a short-pitched delivery rather than employ the hook shot. He even indulges in the premeditated shovel shot over the short fine-leg fielder's head. It was one of those that ended his epic innings in Hyderabad, just short of him achieving deity and a thrilling Indian victory.

There will be nit-pickers who say, "There he goes again. Tendulkar succeeds but India fails to claim victory. That's the difference between him and Lara." The difference appears to be that Lara had a ruthless streak when it came to winning the match, while for Tendulkar one more risk is never too many.

To me the only disappointment is that 11 years after Sharjah, the Indian batting is still so heavily dependent on Tendulkar. After all his magical displays you'd think some of the next-generation batsmen would be clamouring to imitate Tendulkar's starring roles rather than being content to play the bit part in the shadow of the little master.

Chavan's first act - letter congratulating Tendulkar

Sify News, Nov 11

After assuming office as Maharashtra's chief minister, Ashok Chavan's first official duty Saturday was signing a congratulatory letter to India's cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar for his record of 17,000 runs in one day international cricket.

In a letter to the Mumbai-based player, Chavan said: 'Your record has raised the stature of Maharashtra and India and we are all proud of you.'

Expressing his best wishes to Sachin, Chavan said that he felt a special thrill while affixing his signature on the letter, according to an aide.

Sachin's record feat came in a match between India and Australia in Hyderabad Thursday.