On This Day In 2009: Sachin Tendulkar played an innings for the ages, smashing an iconic 175 against Australia in the fifth One-Day International of the 2009 series in Hyderabad on this day. The Master
Blaster rewinded the clock to his heyday in the 90s and hammered the Kangaroos for inarguably one of the finest knocks played by anyone in the history of the ODI game.
Sachin also became the first cricketer to breach the 17,000-run mark in ODIs.
Chasing a massive target of 351, India required a strong start from their famed openers, including the swashbuckling Virender Sehwag. The duo came out firing as Sehwag sent the Aussies on a leather hunt during his freeflowing cameo of 38 off 30 deliveries.
Once Sehwag departed, however, India lost the trio of Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni in quick succession and the onus once again fell on Tendulkar to keep the Indian hopes alive in a run-chase that summed up the legend’s career.
As always, Tendulkar stood apart from his teammates and unleashed the most excellent strokes under pressure. Dominating the pacers and spinners alike, he belted 19 fours and 4 gigantic maximums during his enthralling innings spanning over 141 deliveries.
Having almost singlehandedly brought the equation down to 140 off 120, Tendulkar finally found some support at the other end from young Suresh Raina, who struck a run-a-ball 59 to take the match deep.
Once Raina was dismissed and the tail began, Tendulkar knew he had to take a few more calculated risks to secure victory for Team India. In one such attempt, the legendary right-hander moved across the stumps and played a paddle-scoop aimed to go over the short fine-leg.
But the back of the hand slower ball by Clint McKay induced a miscue and resulted in an easy catch for Nathan Hauritz. The crowd went stunned silent before giving Tendulkar a standing ovation as he walked off feeling gutted not to have taken India over the line, with 19 more required of the last three overs.
In an end that would’ve rekindled the wounds of the 1999 Chennai Test against Pakistan, India’s chase went downhill moments after Tendulkar left. The run-outs of Ravindra Jadeja and Praveen Kumar further dented the hosts and gave Australia a shocking three-run victory.
For Tendulkar, receiving the Player of the Match trophy would’ve barely calmed the anger and dismay he felt. But the maestro once again kept his composure and took the bitter disappointment in his stride.
“I thought we started off really well then lost wickets. Suresh and I had a good partnership but in the end, it was disappointing. Yeah, it was one of my best knocks, the pressure to keep scoring runs was there and we took it very close,” he said after the game.
“I thought Suresh has a terrific talent; he can play the big shots, so if we can get the partnership going, and with powerplay left, the game can go anyway. I care about playing for India, it’s a passion and I have been absolutely honoured to play for India so long.”
