They said he couldn't score in the finals of an ODI tournament. They said he had never won us a test match by scoring a 100 in the 4th innings. They said he was on a downslide and capable of only minnow bashing. Also that Ponting, Kallis, Dravid etc. will easily surpass him. So in a year where India staked a genuine claim to being a world beating side, Sachin Tendulkar has answered his critics in the most befitting manner.
Right from SCG to Chepauk, Tendulkar batted like a man possessed. While his 154 at SCG wasn't enough to save India from an umpire-induced defeat, his 71 (which came to an end with another questionable decision) at Perth and his partnership with Rahul Dravid went a long way in helping India towards becoming the first sub-continent nation to win a Test at the bouncy WACA. This was followed by another gem at Adelaide. In the ODIs, he helped India win the tri series final (2-0) with two amazing knocks, first controlling a tricky chase with the calmness of a monk and then setting up a fighting total in the second final. Injury ruled him out from the SA series and the subsequent ODI tournaments (also part of IPL). He came back against Sri Lanka in the tests with the series billed as the battle between M&M (Murali and Mendis) and India's Fab 4. Sachin failed to make an impact on the tests although he picked Mendis better than most. He looked comfortable in all his innings (except the last where he was troubled by injury) before he found out a way to get out (BTW, Mendis picked him up only once i.e. in the last innings). Despite this being just one blip since WC 2007, the media roundly criticized him (and the others as well) after the series labelling the Fab 4 "over the hill".
The following series against Australia was thus the marquee series of the year. Indian team had to prove to themselves as well as others that Sri Lanka was just a minor blip on the progressive radar. It was a battle of Australia's fading heroes against India's upcoming stars. It was Ganguly's last series (later turned out Kumble's farewell series as well) and India's most successful skipper wanted to stamp his authority one final time. There was also a small matter of Tendulkar being just a few runs away from becoming the highest run scorer in Tests.
The first test was a close affair with Australia dominating till Zaheer and Harbhajan fought back through some resilient late order batting. The 4th innings required India to bat through the final day and save the match. When Tendulkar walked in at 24/2, familiar last day horror scenes must have been racing through the minds of the fans. But Tendulkar (in the company of Gambhir and Laxman) displayed exceptional determination and technique in handling the pressure and bowlers and his innings helped India draw the match. As it turned out, this was Australia's best chance of enforcing a win in the series.
The second test at Mohali began with all the talk about the little champion breaking Lara's record in the match. India batted first and Sehwag and Gambhir gave them an excellent start through a stand of 70. However, India lost a few quick wickets and when Ganguly joined Tendulkar in the middle, the score read 163/4. Tendulkar again came to the rescue with a fluent 88 and a 142 run stand with Ganguly. In the process, he also broke Lara's record and became the 1st person to score 12,000 test runs. Thereafter Dhoni and Ganguly ensured that India reached 469 and with Australia's top order struggling, India won the match by 320 runs. Dhoni made 50 in both the innings and debutant Amit Mishra picked up 7 wickets in the match.
By the time the 3rd test started in Delhi, India were on a high and Australia were really struggling. So when India batted first, everybody expected another run feast. But with Sehwag failing and Dravid's prolonged slump continuing, Tendulkar was again at the crease at 27/2. Continuing with his rich vein of form, he again rescued India with a lovely 68 and in company of Gambhir (who was in great "touch", Shane Watson notwithstanding) took India to 157/2. With both Gambhir and Laxman striking double centuries, India posted a mamoth 613/7 decl. But Australia fought back with all the premier batsmen contributing and cut the lead to just 36. India had to bat really well in the 2nd innings but again India fell to 53/3 and again Tendulkar (47) in the company of Gambhir and Laxman denied Australia any sniff of victory. The match ended in a draw. This test was also the last for Kumble and he was a given a heroic farewell.
It was left to the final test at Nagpur to decide the series. Ironically, it was here at Nagpur four years ago that Australia clinched its first test series on Indian soil in more than 35 years. India needed to deny Australia a win to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy. India won the toss, Dhoni decided to bat and Sehwag in the company of M. Vijay (making his debut in the absence of the suspended-Gambhir) provided a solid 98 run opening partnership. Everything was going according to the script before the debutant off-spinner Jason Krejza struck twice to remove Dravid and Sehwag to leave India in a spot of bother at 116/3. In came Tendulkar and he continued his excellent showing in the series, stitching together a crucial 146 run partnership with Laxman and scoring his 40th ton (10th against Australia) in the process. India posted a competitive 441 and although Australia fought back gallantly, Virender Sehwag and Dhoni ensured that the advantage wasn't squandered and the series was won with a resounding 2-0 margin. Gambhir was adjudged as the man of the series but its pretty clear that Tendulkar was the difference between the two sides.
Having done so much, one would have felt that this was good enough for the year. Little did we know that the best was still to come. Inspite of the terror attacks in Mumbai, the English team showed great courage to continue with the test series and were the frontrunners in the 1st test at Chennai with a 75 run lead in the first innings. Strauss and Collingwood were going strong and at one stage it looked like India will have to battle really hard to even save the match. Then three things happened. Zaheer Khan gave an amazing exhibition of reverse swing in the afternoon of the 4th day and Sehwag smashed a 68 ball 83 to give India a realistic chance of victory on the 5th day. Finally Sachin Tendulkar decided that it was about time that he erased those painful memories of 1999 at the same ground. England had no answers as Tendulkar swept, cut, pulled, drove his way to glory. India chased down 387 and Tendulkar brought up his 41st century.
Hence, in 12 months of brilliant batting, Sachin Tendulkar answered all his critics in style. In 2008, he scored 479 runs at 60 with 2 100s in matches that India won. Not bad for someone who has been criticized (unfairly, shall we say?) for not contributing in India's wins. Tendulkar has indeed redeemed himself in 2008.
Right from SCG to Chepauk, Tendulkar batted like a man possessed. While his 154 at SCG wasn't enough to save India from an umpire-induced defeat, his 71 (which came to an end with another questionable decision) at Perth and his partnership with Rahul Dravid went a long way in helping India towards becoming the first sub-continent nation to win a Test at the bouncy WACA. This was followed by another gem at Adelaide. In the ODIs, he helped India win the tri series final (2-0) with two amazing knocks, first controlling a tricky chase with the calmness of a monk and then setting up a fighting total in the second final. Injury ruled him out from the SA series and the subsequent ODI tournaments (also part of IPL). He came back against Sri Lanka in the tests with the series billed as the battle between M&M (Murali and Mendis) and India's Fab 4. Sachin failed to make an impact on the tests although he picked Mendis better than most. He looked comfortable in all his innings (except the last where he was troubled by injury) before he found out a way to get out (BTW, Mendis picked him up only once i.e. in the last innings). Despite this being just one blip since WC 2007, the media roundly criticized him (and the others as well) after the series labelling the Fab 4 "over the hill".
The following series against Australia was thus the marquee series of the year. Indian team had to prove to themselves as well as others that Sri Lanka was just a minor blip on the progressive radar. It was a battle of Australia's fading heroes against India's upcoming stars. It was Ganguly's last series (later turned out Kumble's farewell series as well) and India's most successful skipper wanted to stamp his authority one final time. There was also a small matter of Tendulkar being just a few runs away from becoming the highest run scorer in Tests.
The first test was a close affair with Australia dominating till Zaheer and Harbhajan fought back through some resilient late order batting. The 4th innings required India to bat through the final day and save the match. When Tendulkar walked in at 24/2, familiar last day horror scenes must have been racing through the minds of the fans. But Tendulkar (in the company of Gambhir and Laxman) displayed exceptional determination and technique in handling the pressure and bowlers and his innings helped India draw the match. As it turned out, this was Australia's best chance of enforcing a win in the series.
The second test at Mohali began with all the talk about the little champion breaking Lara's record in the match. India batted first and Sehwag and Gambhir gave them an excellent start through a stand of 70. However, India lost a few quick wickets and when Ganguly joined Tendulkar in the middle, the score read 163/4. Tendulkar again came to the rescue with a fluent 88 and a 142 run stand with Ganguly. In the process, he also broke Lara's record and became the 1st person to score 12,000 test runs. Thereafter Dhoni and Ganguly ensured that India reached 469 and with Australia's top order struggling, India won the match by 320 runs. Dhoni made 50 in both the innings and debutant Amit Mishra picked up 7 wickets in the match.
By the time the 3rd test started in Delhi, India were on a high and Australia were really struggling. So when India batted first, everybody expected another run feast. But with Sehwag failing and Dravid's prolonged slump continuing, Tendulkar was again at the crease at 27/2. Continuing with his rich vein of form, he again rescued India with a lovely 68 and in company of Gambhir (who was in great "touch", Shane Watson notwithstanding) took India to 157/2. With both Gambhir and Laxman striking double centuries, India posted a mamoth 613/7 decl. But Australia fought back with all the premier batsmen contributing and cut the lead to just 36. India had to bat really well in the 2nd innings but again India fell to 53/3 and again Tendulkar (47) in the company of Gambhir and Laxman denied Australia any sniff of victory. The match ended in a draw. This test was also the last for Kumble and he was a given a heroic farewell.
It was left to the final test at Nagpur to decide the series. Ironically, it was here at Nagpur four years ago that Australia clinched its first test series on Indian soil in more than 35 years. India needed to deny Australia a win to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy. India won the toss, Dhoni decided to bat and Sehwag in the company of M. Vijay (making his debut in the absence of the suspended-Gambhir) provided a solid 98 run opening partnership. Everything was going according to the script before the debutant off-spinner Jason Krejza struck twice to remove Dravid and Sehwag to leave India in a spot of bother at 116/3. In came Tendulkar and he continued his excellent showing in the series, stitching together a crucial 146 run partnership with Laxman and scoring his 40th ton (10th against Australia) in the process. India posted a competitive 441 and although Australia fought back gallantly, Virender Sehwag and Dhoni ensured that the advantage wasn't squandered and the series was won with a resounding 2-0 margin. Gambhir was adjudged as the man of the series but its pretty clear that Tendulkar was the difference between the two sides.
Having done so much, one would have felt that this was good enough for the year. Little did we know that the best was still to come. Inspite of the terror attacks in Mumbai, the English team showed great courage to continue with the test series and were the frontrunners in the 1st test at Chennai with a 75 run lead in the first innings. Strauss and Collingwood were going strong and at one stage it looked like India will have to battle really hard to even save the match. Then three things happened. Zaheer Khan gave an amazing exhibition of reverse swing in the afternoon of the 4th day and Sehwag smashed a 68 ball 83 to give India a realistic chance of victory on the 5th day. Finally Sachin Tendulkar decided that it was about time that he erased those painful memories of 1999 at the same ground. England had no answers as Tendulkar swept, cut, pulled, drove his way to glory. India chased down 387 and Tendulkar brought up his 41st century.
Hence, in 12 months of brilliant batting, Sachin Tendulkar answered all his critics in style. In 2008, he scored 479 runs at 60 with 2 100s in matches that India won. Not bad for someone who has been criticized (unfairly, shall we say?) for not contributing in India's wins. Tendulkar has indeed redeemed himself in 2008.
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