35 years on! Remembering 17-year-old Sachin Tendulkar's first of 100 international centuries

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.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.