2004
Joining Gavaskar on Mount 34
After years of amassing centuries almost at will, the year 2003 was a bit of a disappointment for Sachin Tendulkar and his fans. He had managed only three ODI hundreds that year and high expectations followed him into 2004.
However, Tendulkar reached the three-figure mark just once in 21 ODIs: an innings of 141, which went in vain. He did have five fifties, four that were above 70 and two more than 80, but he failed to convert them into centuries. Yet he did total 812 runs, not bad by any standards – except his.
In the 10 Test matches he played in 2004, Tendulkar had two double centuries and one hundred. It could quite easily have been three, had interim captain Rahul Dravid not declared the innings when the master was on 194 in the famous Multan Test, where Virender Sehwag reached his triple century with a six. In all, Tendulkar made 915 runs, and each time he scored a hundred, he remained unbeaten. His average of 91.5 per innings was his best for any calendar year in his career.
In 2004, India and Pakistan played a bilateral series after a long time. India had last visited Pakistan for an ODI series in 1997–98 and the following year, India played host to them for a Test series. Now, in the 2003–04 season, India went over for a three-Test and five-ODI series. There were great celebrations in India as they won the Test series 2–1 and the ODI series 3–2. In November, Pakistan came over for one match at Kolkata to mark BCCI’s Platinum Jubilee, and went back victorious.
Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid shared the captaincy in this year, when India lost 1–2 to Australia at home. They also lost the Asia Cup final in Sri Lanka, though they beat Bangladesh 2–1 in Bangladesh.
Vintage Sachin Tendulkar on Show at Sydney
‘As for Sachin, well, he played like Sachin. He was very disciplined on the first day and denied himself, which I would say made him appear tentative. But he was in his groove today and played a marvellous innings - Adam Gilchrist in the Hindu, 4 January 2004
THE SITUATION
The stage was set for another battle between Tendulkar and the Australians when the Indians went Down Under for a 4-Test and a tri-nation ODI series. The first Test ended in a draw. Then India won the second Test at Adelaide and lost the third at Melbourne. Tendulkar failed to score in the drawn Brisbane Test and scored 1 and 37 at Adelaide, then 0 and 44 at Melbourne, giving rise to talk of the Australians having tamed the master batsman.
Then came the New Year and the fourth and final Test of the four-Test series. In the fourth Test at Sydney, he scored his 37th century, the seventh against Australia. The match ended in a draw.
In the ODI tri-series that followed, Tendulkar failed to add any more centuries, but he did have two fifties.
RELIVING THE CENTURY
It was Steve Waugh’s last Test, and it seemed Tendulkar wanted to make it memorable for him. When India went in to bat first, they put on one of their best batting displays ever. A century stand between Aakash Chopra (45) and Virender Sehwag (72) set the stage, before Tendulkar was joined by V.V.S. Laxman at 194 for three.
The duo added 353 runs in 98.3 overs and Tendulkar, after having begun the second day at 73 not out, batted through the day, by the end of which he was 220 not out. Laxman, who started the day at 28, made 178 before being bowled by Jason Gillespie.
The partnership made it clear that India had the best batting lineup in the world as Tendulkar and Laxman carried the total to 650 for five, amassing 366 runs in the day. Wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel also made a quickfire fifty.
Tendulkar piled on the misery for the Australian bowlers, with runs coming all around the field, while Laxman’s innings was an exhibition in artistry, which earned him high praise from both Tendulkar and skipper Sourav Ganguly. India went on to declare at 705 for seven, the highest by any visiting team on Australian soil.
And what of Tendulkar himself? As usual, he was authoritative and domineering, sending bowlers into depression. His fabled footwork was at its best as India put on 103 in the first session and 108 in the second. Despite the new ball in the third session, India upped the pace and scooped up 155 runs.
Tendulkar, somewhat circumspect in the beginning, was rock solid afterwards, though he did get a life, dropped by Stuart MacGill of Nathan Bracken. All through the three days (he batted for over 10 hours), Tendulkar was measured - attacking when needed, and constantly watchful.
Australia replied with 474, with centuries by Justin Langer (117) and Simon Katich (125). Anil Kumble took eight wickets for 141 in 46.5 overs in a marathon performance comparable to that of Tendulkar and Laxman.
Instead of asking Australia to follow-on, India batted a second time as Rahul Dravid (91 not out) and Tendulkar (60 not out) put on 138 without being separated. Eventually, they declared at 211 for two in 43.2 overs.
Chasing a target of 443 runs, Australia were 357 for six in 94 overs at the end of play and the match was drawn. So was the series. Kumble, who had eight wickets in the first innings, took four more as he bowled 42 of the 94 overs sent down by the Indian bowlers.
Sachin Tendulkar’s career-best 241 not out was his first Test century in 15 months. Before that he had taken 176 against West Indies at Kolkata in October 2002. Curiously, he had been involved in a big stand with Laxman even then; together, they had saved the match.
Tendulkar was Man of the Match and Rahul Dravid (619 runs in eight innings) was Man of the Series.
Did you know…
» This was the first and only time Sachin Tendulkar (241 not out and 60 not out) scored more than 300 runs in a single Test and also the only time he made a double century and a fifty in the same Test.
» This was Steve Waugh’s last Test match and he scored 40 and 80. He played 168 Tests in all, and scored 10,927 runs with 32 centuries.
Gem of an Innings that Goes in Vain
‘As I was sitting in the stands, watching Sachin Tendulkar unravel his genius, I found myself wondering if I have ever watched a better batsman. I could not think of anyone surpassing the diminutive maestro - not even Viv Richards. Tendulkar is cricket’s “Kohinoor”. Nobody comes even remotely close -Rashid Latif in the Hindu, 18 March 2004
THE SITUATION
India won the first ODI at Karachi, then lost the second and third at Rawalpindi and Peshawar. They won the last two games at Lahore to wrap up the series 3-2 with a win in the final match. Ironically, the only century from Sachin Tendulkar’s blade came in one of the two matches that India lost.
RELIVING THE CENTURY
Inzamam ul Haq won the toss and Pakistan elected to bat. They were immediately of to a flying start, thanks to Shahid Afridi, whose 58-ball 80 set the tone for a 138-run stand in 18.2 overs. As Yasir Hamid scored 86, Pakistan, with smaller but quick contributions from others, reached 329 in 50 overs, setting a stiff target for India.
Tendulkar and Sehwag began well with 56 in eight overs before Sehwag was bowled by Shoaib Akhtar for 26. He and Tendulkar had punished both Akhtar and Shabbir Ahmed, the latter going for 29 in the first four overs. But after Sehwag left, it seemed like a one-man symphony as the master scored an amazing 141 of 135 balls. The next best contribution was from Extras at 37. Rahul Dravid (36) put on 105 with Tendulkar, allowing the latter as much strike as possible.
The fourth-wicket stand between India’s two superstars yielded 105 runs of 90 balls before Tendulkar departed, caught in the deep by Abdul Razzaq of Shoaib Malik for 141 in the 45th over. His cover drives were a treat to watch, and the flicks and cuts a pure delight. During the innings, he seemed to play every shot in the book.
When Tendulkar left, India needed 85 runs in the last 11 overs, but wickets fell at regular intervals and they were left 12 short as they were bowled out for 317 in 48.4 overs, Akhtar and Mohammad Sami wrapping up the tail.
Did you know…
» During the course of his hundred, Sachin Tendulkar became the first to cross 13,000 ODI runs.
A Century and a Declaration
‘Of course I was disappointed, because I was only a few runs away from a double hundred. I wasn’t sure about the declaration. I did not think it would come so soon. At tea time, we decided to play positively. If a side is scoring at four runs an over in Test cricket, I think it is positive batting. Whatever has happened has happened’ - Sachin Tendulkar, Deccan Herald, 30 March 2004
THE SITUATION
India was playing a Test series in Pakistan for the first time since 1989-90, the series in which Tendulkar made his Test debut. Sadly, not many watched the match, which was played at the Multan Cricket Ground, located on a farmland less than an hour’s drive from the city.
RELIVING THE CENTURY
Virender Sehwag opened with fellow Delhi player Aakash Chopra. In less than 40 overs they had put on 160 and Chopras contribution was just about a quarter of that. It was their third century stand in as many Tests. After Chopra, Rahul Dravid left quickly, having made only six. India was on 173 when Tendulkar entered.
The next wicket at 509 was that of Sehwag, who made 309. Sehwag and Tendulkar put on 336, an Indian third-wicket record. With a further 59 from Yuvraj and 29 from Laxman, India reached their second-highest away total, 675 for five declared, the previous highest being 705 for seven declared, at Sydney.
Sehwag survived chances at 68 and 77, and again when he was at 270. In a thrilling display, he reached his hundred with a Sehwag-special, a glide-like shot for six of Shoaib Akhtar. His 300 came of a huge heave over long on of Saqlain Mushtaq. In all, he hit 39 fours and six sixes in 531 minutes, of 375 balls. Coming on the heels of his 195 in Melbourne earlier in the year, the innings established Sehwag’s reputation as the man for big knocks.
While Sehwag was savage as usual, Tendulkar’s century was certainly not among his best, probably because he willingly played second fiddle to Sehwag. He reached his hundred of 209 balls. Yet, when he played his flowing drives and classy cuts, he was awe-inspiring, even with the man at the other end wielding his bat like a meat-cleaver.
Tendulkar was still there when Laxman (29) made way for Yuvraj, who put on 110 with the master in about 18 overs. When Yuvraj was caught and bowled by Imran Farhat, Tendulkar was on 194, six short of his second double hundred in as many Tests – he had amassed 241 not out against Australia in the fourth Test at Sydney earlier in the year.
With about an hour to go for close of play, the sparse crowd at Multan and millions back in India waited for the landmark. Instead, captain Dravid signalled a declaration. Many had seen Sourav Ganguly, who was out of the game with a back injury, seemingly suggesting that things needed to be speeded up. The declaration overshadowed everything, including Sehwag’s epic innings.
Tendulkar himself seemed bewildered. He held his composure but it was evident he was upset. He did not come out to field in the hour that was still left : the official version was that he had a sprained ankle. But at the press conference, he made it clear that he was surprised and disappointed.
In terms of statistics, Tendulkar had crossed Waugh’s 32 hundreds and at 33 was just one behind Gavaskar’s 34.
The next morning, before the game began, Dravid and Tendulkar met behind closed doors and there was no more talk of unpleasantness between them.
Then, on a wicket that was almost a bowlers’ graveyard, Indian bowlers Anil Kumble (two for 100 and six for 72) and Irfan Pathan (four for 100 and two for 26) won the match for India on the fifth morning. And yes, Tendulkar too had two wickets from 14 overs.
Did you know…
» This was India’s first win in Pakistan in 21 Tests spread over 49 years.
» Virender Sehwag, who had scored a century on Test debut in Tendulkar’s company, compiled India’s first-ever triple century in Tests with his 309.
Tendulkar Equals Mentor Gavaskar’s Record
‘When I first saw Tendulkar play a flick shot in the nets for Mumbai Ranji Trophy probables, I knew that he possessed the talent. Within a year he was playing for India and scoring runs in a manner that belied his age and delighted the spectators. He continues to do that a decade and a half after his debut and I hope he keeps doing that for years to come. We may not have the Kohinoor, but we have Tendulkar and to us Indians he’s worth more and even more precious’ - Sunil Gavaskar, hindustantimes.com
THE SITUATION
The Dhaka Test was the first in the two-Test series against Bangladesh. India won both matches, and though Tendulkar made a double century, young Irfan Pathan was adjudged Man of the Match for his 11-wicket haul in the match. With seven more wickets in the second Test, Pathan was also Man of the Series.
RELIVING THE CENTURY
After winning the toss, Sourav Ganguly chose to put the hosts in. Irfan Pathan, who had made his debut 11 months ago in Australia, had his best hour: a five-wicket haul that helped India dismiss Bangladesh for 184.
Of the famed Indian batting line-up, only Ganguly (71) was able to give Tendulkar support. Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman were unable to build substantial innings.
Tendulkar was unbeaten on 159 when the second day ended. When he reached his 34th century with a quick single of seamer Tapas Baishya, the crowd was delirious with joy, but he quietly went about his task of accumulating runs, as he had done for the last 15 years.
When the Indian innings ended at 526, he was still there at 248 not out, scored in nine hours and 12 minutes of 379 balls. His stand of 164 with Ganguly was the biggest, followed by the partnership with Zaheer Khan (75).
Bangladesh never looked like they could make a fight of it. They were 36 for five and finished with 202, giving India victory by an innings and 140 runs. Irfan Pathan ended with match-winning figures of 11 for 96.
Did you know…
» Sachin Tendulkar reached Gavaskar’s record of 34 Test centuries in his 119th Test. Gavaskar too had scored his 34th Test hundred in his 119th match.
» Sachin Tendulkar became only the third cricketer after Australian Steve Waugh and Gary Kirsten of South Africa to score hundreds against every Test playing nation.
PARALLEL LIVES
Viswanathan Anand: Just as Tendulkar was showing himself to be adept at both Tests and ODIs, Anand continued to be versatile in both Classical and Rapid formats. He became one of the very few to win both the Corus Super Grandmaster tournament at Wijk aan Zee and the Dortmund Super-GM in Germany. He was winning at Wijk aan Zee for the fourth time. The juggernaut continued to roll with titles in the Chess Classic of Mainz and the Corsica Master, Bastia, both Rapid events, and interestingly, both for the fourth time in succession. Anand also became the second-highest rated player in the world, behind Garry Kasparov.
Leander Paes: Having recovered from the health scare of 2003, Leander Paes was playing well enough to get to the final of the US Open with David Rikl and to the Australian Open mixed doubles final with Martina Navratilova. He also won four titles on the ATP Tour, two with Rikl and one with Radek Stepanek, both from the Czech Republic. More interestingly, he paired with Mahesh Bhupathi to win the ATP Masters series title in Toronto in July. It was good preparation for the Olympics, but when they did get to Athens, they lost in the semi-finals.
THIS ALSO HAPPENED IN 2004
It was time for general elections in India. The three phases of polling were completed between 20 April and 10 May. The Congress Party emerged winners and Dr Manmohan Singh was sworn in as prime minister on 20 May. A Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) came together with the Left Parties to form the government at the Centre.
A landmark decision by the Bombay High Court restrained TV channels from broadcasting adult programmes or films without an appropriate certificate.
On 2 November, George W. Bush was elected to a second term as US President, winning 51 per cent of the popular vote.
In India, the image of religious leadership took a beating as the Shankaracharya of Kanchi, Jayendra Saraswathi, was arrested on 11 November for allegedly murdering the manager of a temple.
A day after Christmas, the strongest earthquake in 40 years (9.0 on the Richter Scale) originated from the Indian Ocean of the west coast of Sumatra Island, Indonesia. It created tsunami tidal waves, wreaking havoc across the coastlines of South Asia. More than 15,000 people were killed in India and the toll was more than 250,000 across 14 countries.