Sachin Tendulkar spoke about that match on Star Sports’ show ‘Cricket Connected’, where he cited his displeasure at the revised target. He said that India were on course to chase down the mammoth target. However, the loss of four overs played a major role in throwing their plans into disarray.
Sachin Tendulkar also highlighted the lighter side of that day, where he was even ready to hold Australia’s Adam Gilchrist after fearing that he would be blown away in his first-ever desert storm experience.
Sachin Tendulkar recalled the strong dusty winds which posed a sudden threat in the middle of an intense encounter and how he couldn’t wait to go back to the pavillion.
Sachin Tendulkar single-handedly took India to the finals
For all cricket fans, April 22, 1998, is remembered for Sachin Tendulkar’s heroics with the bat. His masterful knock, although in a losing cause, helped India qualify for the finals against the same opposition.
In the Coca-Cola Cup, Match 6 between Australia and India at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, India were set a target of 285 to win in their allotted 50 overs. They needed to score at least 250 runs to make it to the finals, however, the sudden weather change brought in a revised target which affected India’s chase and their pursuit for a win.
But Sachin Tendulkar ensured that they qualified for the finals courtesy his magnificent knock of 143 runs. In fact, his innings has been described by many as his best in ODI cricket, due to the brutal hammering he meted out to Shane Warne.
Sachin Tendulkar’s heroism wasn’t curtailed to that day itself as he came back for the finals and helped India win courtesy another brilliant hundred while chasing 273 to win. He scored 134 runs and walked away with the Player of the Series award.
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