A tribute to SRT as he completed his 20 years in International cricket...Read the whole post here.. http://snicked.wordpress.com/2010/04/18/sachintendulkar/

1. The Growing Legend: SACHIN TENDULKAR

2. An Indian cricket fanatic can’t be defined unless the person knows the significance of November 15. Come this November 15, the legendary great, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar turns 20 in international Cricket.

3. Sachin Tendulkar kick-started his international cricket against Pakistan at the National Stadium in Karachi during the first test of India’s tour to Pakistan in 1989-1990. All know Tendulkar duly faced high-end bouncers off Waqar Younis and eventually was bowled by him when he was 15, while his first test innings. But, certainly, the way he played Waqar was adorable and not all, but few already knew that a legend was born. The following slides cover few of his best innings!!!

4. The Savior First-up! The second match of the Indian tour to England in 1990 in which England after winning the toss batted first piling 519. In reply India were bowled out for 432 with Tendulkar 68, Manjerekar 98 and Azhar 179. England again piled a huge score in 320, giving India a target of 407. But then, on Day 5, India struggled at 127-5 when KapilDev joined Tendulkar. Soon at 183-6, Kapil too perished, leaving Tendulkar and Prabharkar save the Indian ship. The duo did the job with Tendulkar scoring a blistering 119* and both batsmen batted until the stumps fell on the last day. The match ended in a draw with Tendulakar given the man of the match for his match aggregate of 187.

5. Sachin Tendulkar, celebrating after his first ton at the Old Trafford, England, 14 August, 1990. Image courtesy: Chris Cole/Allsport

6. Ton amidst Humiliation The fifth test of the 1991-92 series while India toured Australia was played on world’s fastest track – Perth. Australia were already 3-0 up in the series and only humiliation was to follow India. After Australia scored 346 in the first innings, India struggled with their batting. When Tendulkar came in at 69-2, everything seemed fine enough. He saw 6 wickets to fall in 90 runs and while he was at the crease he scored 114 off the total 181 scored! He played at a strike rate of more than 70 hitting 16 smashing boundaries and the rest remained history.

7. A file picture showing Sachin Tendulkar playing at the WACA ground, Perth. Image Courtesy: Getty Images

8. Game lost but Hearts won! The new year test match in 1996-1997 was simply a nightmare for the Indians. Being already 1-0 down in the series, India lost the toss and South Africa choosing to bat first piled a whopping 529 on the board. In reply, Indians kept on faltering until Azharuddin and Tendulkar met at 58-5. The duo put on 222 for the sixth wicket. Tendulkar scored a wonderful 169 with 26 boundaries and very decent strike-rate of 66.53. In fact, Tendulkar was the last man out. Allan Donald with same regard, later quoted, that he felt like clapping for Sachin’s Innings.

9. A file picture showing Sachin Tendulkar playing at Newlands, Cape Town. Image Courtesy: AFP

10. Firecrackers in Chennai! Courtesy: SRT It was the first test of the 1997-98 Border Gavaskar Trophy at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. While India came out bat first in the second innings, Australia lead by 71. Sachin came in at 115-2 and joined Dravid. With Warne bowling round the wicket and into the rough, the Indian men had to contend with his bowling. But, SRT had other ideas. With a breathtaking assault against the opposition, Sachin scored 155* off just 191 balls including 14 fours and 4 sixes. India eventually won the match by 179 runs and SRT was undoubtedly declared the player of the match.

11. A very rare print showing Tendulkar flicking Greg Blewett while his assault of 155* against Australia, Chennai, March 9, 1998. Image Courtesy: Getty Images

12. The double-ton Showdown at Sharjah : I The last league stage match of the Coca-Cola cup played in Sharjah, India had to score 237 while chasing 276 (both scores being revised due to a dust-storm and overs reduced to 46) to gain the final birth and knock-out New Zealand. Tendulkar scored 143 off 131 balls which include 9 fours and 5 sixes. India though lost the match, Tendulkar’s heroics gave them a birth in the finals and as we say, rest is history.

13. The double-ton Showdown at Sharjah: II After India secured the final-birth just 36 hours before, it was now the birthday of Sachin Tendulkar. India, this time winning the toss put Oz into bat and in return Oz scored 272. India had form with Sachin being at his best. He opened and just repeated last evening’s heroics. He this time scored 134 but co-incidentally perished on the 131st ball again. India won the match by 6 wickets and the Coco-cola cup too. Tendulkar was named the player of the match and the series as well.

14. Sachin Tendulkar being felicitated by Shane Warne after he took India home during the coco-cola cup final, April 24, 1998, Sharjah.

15. Unsuccessful Rescue act at Chennai Chennai was the host to the 1st test match while Pakistan toured India during 1998-99 season. It was a low scoring encounter and India had to chase 271 when they came out to bat on Day 3. Tendulkar was playing his usual #4 and came in at 6-2. India at a stage struggled on 82-5 until Mongia joined SRT. Both put on a 136 partnership. When the scoreboard was 254-6 with Tendulkar still on the crease, Tendulkar lost his wicket to SaqlainMushtaq. The tail did many a blunders scoring just 4 runs for the last 3 wickets and India, hence loosing by just 12.

16. Sachin Tendulkar acknowledges for his ton, January 31, 1999, Chennai. Image Courtesy: Getty Images

17. Protealand turns Blunderland; But not for SRT though! The first innings of the first test of India’s tour to SA produced blunders by Indian batting line-up loitering at 68-4. When, the debutant Virender Sehwag joined Tendulkar, these guys had a task on hand. Both did the same. Sehwag got a hundred on debut but the miraculous innings was played by Sachin himself, 155 off 184 balls with 23 boundaries and 1 six. Though he took 17 balls to get his first run, he scored next 101 off just 97. The innings can be stated as one of his bests and included the adorable pulls and vicious upper-cuts. By the end of the innings India were in a good position, but India lost the test by 9 wickets.

18. Sachin Tendulkar guides a ball down the off side while his 155 against SA, November 3, 2001, Bloemfontein Image Courtesy: AFP

19. Centurion conquered The World Cup Pool match against Pakistan and it was a full-house at Centurion. Sachin has quoted that he was dealing with this match 12 months in advance and he wasn’t able to sleep just because of an India-Pakistan clash! Pakistan, batting first, scored 273-7. India needed 274 and SRT opened the innings as usual. He when came against his traditional rival, ShoiabAkhtar, hit a six in latter’s first over and then two boundaries. He though departed in the 27th over scoring 98 off just 75 balls, India were sailing at 177-4 and the match was more or less India’s.

20. Sachin Tendulkar playing the famous upper-cut off ShoiabAkhtar which fetched a six, March 1, 2003, World Cup Pool Match, Centurion Image Courtesy: Getty Images

21. First ton in Oz-land The first final of the CB Series 2007-08 was destined to see the master play a masterclass innings. Oz, batting first scored 239. India was not playing Sehwag and Uthappa was the cover. Uthappa didn’t last long so as Gambhir and Yuvraj. At 87-3, Tendulkar really needed a perfect partner to take India home. Rohit Sharma, Sachin’sdomestic partner came in and supported him, or you can say, Sharma was supported by Tendulkar. Tendulkar scored 117* and got an ODI century in Australia, a century in 37 innings, a chase-winning century since 2001, a century in any chase since March 2004. He batted wonderfully for 235 minutes until the innings ended and rest is history as due to his 91, the next final, India won the game and won the CB series.

22. SRT enjoys his first one-day ton in Australia, CB Series 1st Final, March 2, 2008, Sydney Image Courtesy: Getty Images

23. Sachin heroics enables India to chase 387! After the worst terror attacks India would have expected in the financial capital of the country, Mumbai, England came back for a re-scheduled series. It was the first test played at Chennai, India, batting last needed to chase 387, with a deteriorating pitch on hand, Sehwag provided the best of the explosive starts. Tendulkar, having struggled with Panesar and Swann in the first innings played carefully and with a modest support by Yuvraj, a boundary by SRT bought India’s win and Sachin’s 100. In fact, this was Sachin’s first century in the last innings with a successful chase. SRT dedicated this hundred to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai and with Tendulkar, again, India smiled!

24. One for the album as Yuvraj lifts Sachin as India win and Sachin reaches the three-figure mark, December 15, 2008, Chennai. Image Courtesy: Getty Images

25. One for the Kiwiland Though the pitch India batted on, winning the toss was a belter of a track, Sachin needs to be given the most credit. Opening the innings, he scored a 163* off just 133 balls with 16 fours and 5 sixes at Christchurch. None but all Kiwi bowlers got the treatment but unfortunately he ended retired hurt. He later on went on to quote that he would have got the 200 if he batted the innings as 5 overs were still at stake while he returned back to the pavillion. India scored a whopping 392-4 and beat NZ by 58 runs. The innings being his one of the best, was indeed the first 3-figure mark in New Zealand!

26. Tendulkar after scoring his first hundred in NZ, March 8, 2009, Christchurch Image Courtesy: AFP

27. Sachin Hurricane hits Hyderabad The 2009 season when Australia toured India; India were quite some opponents and with series hanging in balance 2-all, the match to decided which team possesses more prowess. Australia with an injured and depleted unit, scored unexpected 350. In reply, India had the start, the way they wanted from Sachin and Sehwag. But it was the #6 Raina who supported SRT for a while. He almost, single-handedly chased the 351, scoring 175 off just 141 balls including 19 fours and 4 sixes. The tail was not really sufficient to get 18 off 17 balls and were eventually bowled being just 3 runs short of the target. This innings of his could be easily regarded as his best in his One-day career.

28. Sachin hits one hard, down the ground, during his 175 against Australia, November 5, 2009, Hyderabad

29. Sachin Tendulkar: Test Career Figures in red imply the best in the specified category. * - Not out

30. Sachin Tendulkar: ODI Career

31. Thank you Sachin for playing such glorious and mind-boggling innings. Hope you play for as many decades as you can and keep playing!!! Your performances have been etched in our memories like something that just can’t be erased. Congratulations for 20 years in international cricket.

32. About the author Sachin’s just another fan based in Ahmedabad, a 17-year old teen studying in 12th grade. Can also be regarded as a freelance and a desperate cricket journalist due to self-creation of more than 20 articles and reports over cricket and dominantly on Indian Cricket in just past couple of months. Rahul Bhagchandani (http://transglobalfreepress.com/rahulbhagchandani) COVER SONG: Forever Young; Artist: Bob Dylan