IND vs ENG: Sachin Tendulkar explains why 2008 Chepauk ton against England is the ‘most meaningful' of his 100 centuries
Having scored 100 centuries in a decorated international career, Sachin Tendulkar often gets asked about his best knocks, most favourite tons and what not. But the one that holds a very special place in his heart, as he has often mentioned in the past, in the fourth-inning century in Chennai against England in December 2008, not long after the terror strikes in Mumbai that shook the nation.
In an interview with Sky Cricket, while unveiling the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy for the India vs England Test series coming up, the Master Blaster said that ton at Chepauk in an epic run-chase is the 'most meaningful' of his career, for the context around it.
'I still remember post that match, when we were sitting in the dressing room, we could not believe that we had won the game from that position we were in for 3 days, and considering how the mental state was… not just the cricket team but the entire nation. I mean it was very, very fragile, we were not in the right frame of mind to play test cricket. When the match got over, I felt it was the most meaningful hundred of my life. I don't think there has been any hundred that has meant more to me,' Tendulkar told former England captain Mike Atherton, seated next to James Anderson.
England elected to bat first and put up a solid 316 on board, riding on Andrew Strauss' 123 and half centuries from Alastair Cook and Matt Prior lower down the order. India's reply got off to a poor start as they found themselves 37/3 in no time. A 7th wicket partnership 85 runs between captain MS Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh added some respectability to India's first innings total but they were bundled out for 241. Strauss once again led the way for England with a second innings century as well, and Paul Collingwood too scored a ton in the middle order as their 4th wicket stand in excess of 200 all but batted India out of the match. But a late three-wicket burst from Zaheer Khan meant India were able to find some momentum back into the match. A target of 387 was still a massive ask on a Chepauk pitch that gets increasingly difficult to bat on and a world-class bowling unit like the one England had. And then England were hit by a Virender Sehwag special.
'For the first three and a half days thought we were playing a catching-up game and then suddenly we started picking wickets. Zaheeer got three. Then just towards the end of the day's play, in about 90 minutes or so, Sehwag went berserk, he played some incredible shots. On that track, I felt England had possibly the best bowling attack. It was Jimmy, Harmison, Flintoff, Panesar, and Swann. So, they had everything covered and the ball turned on the last day, so to chase wasn't wasn't an easy task, especially against a world-class attack. But we got into some good partnerships and then we finished really strong with Yuvi and I scoring the runs,' the former India captain, who was not out on 103 at the end, said. Sehwag's 83 set up the chase, along with a solid 66 from current India coach Gautam Gambhir at the top of the order. Then Tendulkar and Yuvraj's unbeaten 5th wicket stand of 163 runs took India home. To this date, it is India's second-highest successful run-case in Test cricket history.
Tendulkar also thanked England for their decision to go ahead with the two-match Test series, after the events in Mumbai. 'After that terrorist strike, the series was put on hold. I remember England traveling to Dubai where they were based for four or five days and very graciously they decided to come back. Thanks to ECB. I want to officially go on record wanting to thank ECB on behalf of all the Indian well-wishers of Indian cricket. That was very much needed for Indian cricket for the English team to return back to India and play the series. It meant a lot to all of us.'
Interview video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH6F6P8qAvU
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