Sachin Tendulkar's fabulous gift for guru Ramakant Achrekar on Teacher's Day

Sachin Tendulkar's fabulous gift for guru Ramakant Achrekar on Teacher's Day

September 5, 2002  

At the age of 29, Sachin Tendulkar became the youngest man to play 100 Test matches when India took on England at The Oval in September 2002. It was the final Test of an exhilarating series – one that was deadlocked on 1-1. Sourav Ganguly’s new Indian team were shedding the tag of poor travellers and the drawn series in England was probably the first big step in achieving that aim. It was only too appropriate that Tendulkar - the still young senior statesman of that  team – overhauled the milestone in the course of that landmark series.

The summer of 2002 is remembered for Rahul Dravid’s remarkable vigils that set the tone for India’s campaigns. His 148 at Headingley was a great exhibition of discipline and grit that backed Ganguly’s brave decision to bat first in typical English conditions. Tendulkar too was in fantastic form and had scored a thrilling 193 at Headingley that built India’s score on the strong foundation laid by Dravid.

Some felt that India had a chance to win its first overseas Test series since 1986 and Tendulkar’s 100 Test would become even more special had it panned out that way. In an anti-climatic manner, the Test turned out to be a batsman dominated draw with rain having the last laugh. Dravid notched a double century that sealed his fantastic summer.

Tendulkar continued to look good and smashed an aggressive 54 that contained 10 boundaries. While Dravid anchored the innings at one end, Tendulkar looked set to carry on from where he left off at Headingley. As Wisden reported, “He received a standing ovation as he came to the crease, and as he breezed to a boundary-laden 54, nothing looked surer than a second, louder ovation when he reached 100.” That wasn’t to be as Andy Caddick had him trapped leg-before against the run of play.

In the lead-up to the game, the newspapers in Mumbai were full of articles and snippets on its favourite son.Ramakant Achrekar – Tendulkar’s coach – was interviewed by a number of newspapers. Somewhere he would have felt proud that his famous pupil achieved the feat on Teacher’s Day. 

Robin Uthappa (bat in hand) is congratulated by Dinesh Karthik (left) and Rohit Sharma (right) after he scored the winning runs in the 6th NatWest ODI between England and India at The Oval on September 5, 2007. © Getty Images

September 5, 2007 

Five years to the day Tendulkar played his 100^th Test, Tendulkar produced a gem at the same ground – albeit in coloured clothing. It was a dramatic game – with an unpredictable ebb and flow of momentum. The game had all the ingredients to be a blockbuster, along the lines of the famous NatWest series final of 2002 which was also played between the England and India.

England batted first and were dented by India at regular intervals until Owais Shah came to the crease. In the company of Kevin Pietersen and Luke Wright – who was making his international debut – he took the charge to the Indians and gradually upped the ante. England looked good for a total around 290 as the slog overs approached and that changed when Dimitri Mascarenhas entered the scene. The all-rounder smashed five consecutive sixes off Yuvraj Singh in the final over of the innings. The remarkable carnage took England to a formidable 316.

The old firm of Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar started off in typical aggressive fashion and had put up 150 by the 23^rd over. Both played some fantastic shots that defied the age convention and rekindled memories of their younger days. Tendulkar in particular was severe – using his bat to perfection and bisecting the gaps with ease.

Ganguly fell in the 23^rd over and left a cramping Tendulkar out in the middle. Trying to break free from the pressure, Tendulkar was dismissed for 94 trying to loft Monty Panesar over mid-off. With the asking rate increasing, India were dented regularly and found themselves at 234 for five in the 41^st over – when Robin Uthappa entered the scene.

Uthappa and Mahendra Singh Dhoni kept the scoreboard ticking and picked crucial boundaries. Things became even tighter when Dhoni fell with 23 to get off two overs. Uthappa took matters in his own hands and tried innovative tricks. He walked around the crease to disturb the rhythm of the bowlers. Lady Luck favoured the brave as a number of edges flew to the boundary past the keeper as India inched closer.

With eight to get off four, Uthappa remarkably walked across his stumps to Stuart Broad and lofted him with an angled bat over fine leg. He smashed the next ball through mid off for another four to seal an Indian victory. The Oval resembled the Wankhede Stadium as a sea of fans draped in navy blue rejoiced the remarkable victory. The Indian team stormed the pitch to celebrate their thrilling win. Even the commentators couldn’t hide their excitement. Ravi Shastri famously said, “You beauty Uthappa, you deserve ten dosas!”