NEW DELHI: Thirty-five years ago,
Sachin Tendulkar scored the first of his record 100 international centuries — an unbeaten 119 that rescued India in the second Test of the 1990 England tour at Old Trafford, Manchester. Just 17 at the time, the young prodigy’s innings on the final day helped secure a draw and announced his arrival on the world stage.
Before this landmark knock, Tendulkar had already hinted at his immense potential with half-centuries in Faisalabad, Sialkot, and Napier during testing away tours to Pakistan and New Zealand. But his gritty performance in Manchester elevated him from a promising youngster to a rising force in international cricket.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!After making a fluent 68 in the first innings, Tendulkar walked out at No.6 on the final day with India reeling at 103/4, chasing a steep 408. Against the moving ball, he combined rock-solid defence with elegant stroke play, striking 17 boundaries during his 189-ball stay. Even as wickets fell and the visitors slipped to 183/6, Tendulkar held firm.
Manoj Prabhakar proved the perfect foil, scoring 67 not out from 128 deliveries. Together, the pair added an unbroken 160-run stand that blunted England’s bowling attack and guided India to safety.
At the close, England captain Graham Gooch and his players applauded the teenager’s composure and class. That moment became the first chapter in a storied 24-year career in which Tendulkar would compile 99 more hundreds, cementing his legacy as one of cricket’s greatest-ever batsmen.
What stood out most in this innings was his maturity under pressure — leaving balls with precision, playing late, and mastering both front-foot and back-foot strokes in tough conditions. It was the day Sachin Tendulkar went from talented youngster to complete international batsman.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less
Start a Conversation
Post comment