Well, hello and welcome back to my blog, SlogVlog! Today’s post is a special one—it’s the first-ever Top 10 list on this blog. In this edition, we’ll be looking at 10 magical and unforgettable Test innings of one of the greatest cricketers of all time, a man who has been nothing short of a god for Indian cricket fans for over 25 years—Sachin Tendulkar. With the Master Blaster turning 53, there couldn’t be a better time to revisit some of his finest moments in Test cricket. Let’s get started!
1. 241 VS Australia, Sydney 2004:
The India tour of Australia in 2003–04 is one of the most unforgettable Test series ever. There were many moments—Rahul Dravid’s unbelievable 619 runs, which won him the Player of the Series—but there was one innings that felt almost unreal. This wasn’t just a great knock… this was something magical. Many believe this is the greatest Test innings of Sachin Tendulkar’s career, and honestly, it’s hard to argue against that.
What makes it even more special is what came before it. Sachin Tendulkar—yes, that Sachin Tendulkar—was struggling. Scores of 0, 1, 37, 0, and 44. You don’t hear that often when it comes to the Little Master. The cover drive, his most beautiful shot, was becoming his biggest weakness. Every time he went for it, the edge followed.
So what did he do? He decided—no cover drives. If the Australians wanted to tempt him outside off stump, he would simply leave it. Ball after ball, over after over. It became more than just batting… it became a battle of will.
And when he walked in at No. 4 in Sydney, it wasn’t just another innings—it felt like war. For three days. 436 balls. Not a single cover drive. Let that sink in.
Every run was earned with patience, control, and pure determination. When the bowlers came straighter, he punished them with those iconic wristy shots to the leg side. 33 boundaries he hit that game. It was like nothing could break him. Not the bowlers, not the pressure, not even his own recent failures.
Australia, the most dominant team in the world at that time, could only watch. No answers. It genuinely felt like one man against eleven—and that one man was in complete control. It felt like God himself came and played the game for 3 days.
Sachin Tendulkar was on a different level that game. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar was just that damn good.
Relive this masterpiece over here-
And here is what the Master Blaster had to say about his inning against the Aussies-
2. 119* VS England, Manchester 1990:
This was the innings that truly made people realise who Sachin Tendulkar was. Yes, the cricketing world had already heard about a 16-year-old prodigy making his debut for India, but this knock marked the beginning of the Sachin Tendulkar era.
Coming into this match, Sachin had already scored a half-century in the previous innings. But what followed next was something special. Walking in at No. 6, with India chasing a massive 408 and the team struggling at 103/4, the situation demanded maturity far beyond his years.
Wickets kept falling at the other end, but Sachin stood firm. For a 17-year-old, the composure he showed was simply unbelievable. He played with patience, courage, and a calmness that made it look like he had been playing at this level for years. Scoring an unbeaten 119 off 189 balls, including 17 boundaries, Sachin guided India to a memorable draw.
And of course, credit must also go to Manoj Prabhakar, who supported him brilliantly with a steady 67* off 128 balls, forming a partnership that saved the match for India.
Here’s a look at the master blaster’s first ever century-
3. 193 VS England, Headingley 2002:
This series was a memorable one for the Indian team. Drawing a Test series in England is never easy, and at that time, it was a significant achievement. The tour is also remembered for the famous NatWest Series win, highlighted by Sourav Ganguly’s iconic celebration at Lord’s, with Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif leading a remarkable chase.
However, the focus here is on Sachin Tendulkar’s outstanding 193 against England.
This innings holds special importance not just because it came overseas, but because it marked a major milestone in Tendulkar’s career. It was his 30th Test century, which meant he surpassed Sir Donald Bradman’s tally of 29 centuries. At that point, he was second only to Sunil Gavaskar in terms of Test hundreds.
Tendulkar’s 193 was a display of control and class, helping India post a massive total of 628/8 declared. In response, England were bowled out for 273 and 309, giving India a convincing victory by an innings and 46 runs.
It was a strong team performance as well, with valuable contributions from Rahul Dravid and captain Sourav Ganguly, who supported Tendulkar well during the innings.
4. 109 VS Sri Lanka, Delhi 2005:
This century may not be talked about as much, but it holds great significance. On December 10, 2005, Sachin Tendulkar scored his 35th Test century, surpassing Sunil Gavaskar’s record of 34 hundreds and setting a new benchmark in Test cricket. It was a historic moment that further strengthened his place among the greatest to ever play the format.
As for the innings itself, India were in a bit of trouble at 56/2 when Tendulkar walked in. What followed was a display of patience and control, as he batted for the next 70 overs, scoring a brilliant century that included 14 boundaries and a six. He received support from VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly for a while, but once they departed, Tendulkar had to take greater responsibility, especially with the younger players like Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, and Irfan Pathan unable to contribute significantly.
While this was a record-breaking innings, the match also belonged to Anil Kumble, who delivered a remarkable performance with the ball. He picked up 6/72 in the first innings and 4/85 in the second, completing a ten-wicket haul and earning the Player of the Match award, as India secured a convincing 188-run victory.
5. 155* VS Australia, Chennai 1998:
What an innings this was. Sachin Tendulkar walked in after Navjot Singh Sidhu was dismissed for 64. Sidhu and Rahul Dravid had built a solid partnership, but Australia managed to break through. Then came a man who had already established himself as one of the finest batsmen in the world.
Nine years into his career, Tendulkar was at the peak of his powers in 1998—simply unstoppable. After being dismissed for just 4 in the first innings, he walked in at 115/2, determined to make amends.
In the first innings, Shane Warne and Gavin Robertson had dominated the Indian batting lineup, picking up four wickets each and looking unplayable. But everything changed when Tendulkar arrived at the crease. He took on the bowlers fearlessly, dismantling them all around the ground. Not many could toy with a peak Shane Warne the way Tendulkar did that day.
Supported by valuable contributions from Rahul Dravid, Mohammad Azharuddin, and Sourav Ganguly, Tendulkar anchored the innings brilliantly. He remained unbeaten on 155* off 191 balls, guiding India to a massive total of 418.
India then bundled out Australia for 168, sealing a dominant victory by 179 runs.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1054606260183646
Thank you for reading this post—I hope you all enjoyed it. We’ve split this into two parts because covering 10 of Sachin Tendulkar’s greatest innings in one post would make it far too long.
We’ll see you soon with Part 2!
Until next time!
Thank you
SlogVlog 