THERE,BUT NOT QUITE: BEST OF THE REST

(ODI No. 168) 91 (87) vs England at Sharjah,December 1997

Overall career centuries: 26

The captain had brought India within 19 runs of victory with a knock that included two big sixes. Then Tendulkar over-balanced against a yorker from debutant Michael Fleming and got stumped. India eventually lost by seven runs.

(ODI No. 176) 95 (78) vs Pakistan at Dhaka,January 1998

Overall career centuries: 26

This was Tendulkar at his explosive best,as he tore apart the Pakistani bowling attack with 6 fours and 5 massive sixes as India comfortably chased down 213 in the first final of the Silver Jubilee Independence Cup. By the time he was bowled by Shahid Afridi,he had set the game up with a brutal 159-run opening stand with Sourav Ganguly.

(ODI No.233) 93 (103) vs Pakistan at Hobart,January 2000

Overall career centuries: 46

Tendulkar anchored the run-chase with a steady 93,before being cleaned-up by Abdul Razzaq for the second consecutive time. India still required 86 off 89 deliveries,but none of the other batsmen crossed 50,and they lost by 32 runs.

(ODI No. 248) 93 (95) vs Sri Lanka at Dhaka,June 2000

Overall career centuries: 47

Tendulkar played a lone hand again,and after he was caught by Mahela Jayawardene at deep square-leg. India needed 102 more at well over run-a-ball,and they didn’t even come close.

(Test No. 89) 90 (198) vs England at Bangalore,December 2001 (1st inn) Overall career centuries: 58

The top-order had imploded,and Tendulkar was guiding India towards safety when Ashley Giles’s negative over-the-wicket line instigated his first-ever stumped dismissal in Tests,with his team still 163 in arrears.

(ODI No.311) 97 (120) vs Sri Lanka at Johannesburg,March 2003 Overall career centuries: 65

After seeing off a testing spell from Chaminda Vaas,Tendulkar lorded over the rest of the Lankan bowling,slowing up slightly in between,and still 11 overs remained when he edged Aravinda de Silva to the wicket-keeper. It was good enough to set up a 183-run win.

(Test No. 121) 94 (202) vs Pakistan at Mohali,March 2005 (1st Inn) Overall career centuries: 71

In pursuit of his record 35 th Test ton,Tendulkar started off well before slipping into a rut as he entered the 90s,despite India’s strong position in the Test. He then fell to a careless shot away from the body,dismissed by Naved-ul-Hasan.

(ODI No.349) 93 (96) vs Sri Lanka at Nagpur,October 2005

Overall career centuries: 72

He flayed the Sri Lankan attack,and still over 18 overs remained when he edged a Farveez Maharoof out-swinger. India piled on 350/6 and won by 152 runs.

(ODI No.386) 99(143) vs South Africa at Belfast,June 2007

Overall career centuries: 78

The year of the 90s started with Tendulkar falling just one-short for the first time in 524 international matches. What would have been his slowest ODI ton wasn’t to be as he ran himself out looking for a bizarre second run.

(ODI No. 387) 93 (106) vs South Africa at Belfast,June 2007

Overall career centuries: 78

After looking in control throughout,Tendulkar got stuck briefly in the nineties. Eventually,he played a Thandi Tshabalala delivery onto his stumps. India barely sneaked through to victory.

(ODI No.390) 99 (112) vs England at Bristol,August 2007

Overall career centuries: 78

A contentious decision conspired in Tendulkar’s second 99 in two months,after he was given out for gloving a sharp bouncer from Andrew Flintoff. Until then,he feasted on the bowling,hitting 15 fours. With 18.3 overs remaining,he looked ominous for a lot more.

(ODI No. 394) 94 (81) vs England at The Oval,September 2007

Overall career centuries: 78

Chasing 317 for victory,Tendulkar got India off to a flier,hitting 16 fours and a six,before cramps and a blinder from Paul Collingwood resulted in his fourth 90 in nine ODI innings. India still needed 161 from 24 overs with eight wickets,which they achieved in dramatic fashion.

(ODI No.404) 99 (91) vs Pakistan at Mohali,November 2007

Overall career centuries: 78

Tendulkar looked sublime for the 25.4 overs he was there,before falling for his third 99 in the year as he edged a Umar Gul delivery to the wicket-keeper. India’s 321/9 wasn’t enough eventually.

(ODI No.406) 97 (102) vs Pakistan at Gwalior,November 2007

Overall career centuries: 78

Tendulkar set up yet another successful run-chase after starting slow,before playing onto his stumps. It was the last of his 7 ODI 90s in that calendar year.

(ODI No.439) 96* (104) vs Sri Lanka at Cuttack,December 2009

Overall career centuries: 88

For once there weren’t enough runs to chase down,as Tendulkar saw India home to their target of 240 and remained unbeaten four short of No.89. It would be his only unbeaten innings in the nineties in ODIs.

(Test No. 181) 91 (172) vs England at The Oval,August 2011 (2nd Inn) Overall career centuries: 99

India were fighting to save an innings defeat and the ignominy of a 4-0 whitewash,and Tendulkar was the pivot. And till Tim Bresnan trapped him lbw,the 100 th hundred looked inevitable. Tendulkar missed his ton,England completed the big whitewash on the then No.1 ranked side in the world.

(Test No.184) 94 (153) vs West Indies at Mumbai,November 2011 (1st Inn) Overall career centuries: 99

The whole of Mumbai and a bit more had turned up for the big moment with Tendulkar not out overnight on 67 at the end of Day Three against a weak West Indies attack. And when he smashed 27 off 19 balls on the fourth morning,including an upper cut six,the roof was just about to come off. Then Ravi Rampaul decided to break a billion hearts.