On this day 16 years apart, December 11 will remain one of the most memorable days in Sachin Tendulkar’s career. While Tendulkar has set innumerable records in his career spanning more than two decades,
this day will always be special as he played two epic knocks 16 years apart. His first ton came on December 11 in 1988 when Tendulkar showcased his brilliance in his maiden first-class game at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Exactly 16 years later, on the same day, Tendulkar hit another century against Bangladesh. The former Indian batter played that fine knock in the first Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka. Tendulkar finished that innings on an unbeaten 248 which is also his highest score in test cricket.
At the age of 15, made his first-class debut against Gujarat. Playing at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, he scored an unbeaten century. With this, he became the youngest Indian to score a century on first-class debut. On the back of Tendulkar’s century, Bombay reached a solid total of 394. The Ranji Trophy match eventually, ended in a draw.
Sachin Tendulkar went on to score a double hundred on December 11, 2004. This time, the stage was international cricket and the opponents were Bangladesh. Tendulkar remained unbeaten on 159 at the end of the second day’s play. He ended up producing an epic knock of 248 in the first innings. His spectacular innings comprised 35 boundaries. This is also his highest ever Test score and this epic innings was Sachin’s sixth double century in Test.
Sourav Ganguly, India’s skipper at that time, supported Sachin and formed a great partnership. Thanks to captain Ganguly and Tendulkar’s brilliance with the bat, India managed to post a solid total of 526 in the first innings. Sachin also shared a 113 run tenth wicket partnership with Zaheer Khan. In the bowling department, Irfan Pathan excelled having registered two five-wicket hauls across both innings. In the first innings, Pathan scripted terrific figures of 5/45 to bowl out Bangladesh for 184. In the second innings, Irfan Pathan scalped six more wickets as the hosts could manage to reach 202. India won the match by an innings and 140 runs.
