Sachin Tendulkar is considered the greatest batsman in the history of cricket for his sheer ability to score plenty of runs in all conditions. When it came to batting in India, there was none better than him. Sachin Tendulkar, though, preserved his best for the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai. In 10 Tests, Sachin Tendulkar has hit five centuries at the venue at an average of 88 with 970 runs. No one will ever forget the heartbreak of 1999 when he battled back spasms and went on to score a heroic 136 against Pakistan. Such was the magnitude of his knock that when Pakistan won by 12 runs, Sachin Tendulkar was named the Man of the Match but he did not take the award as he was in the dressing room reportedly crying inconsolably.
However, apart from his 1999 masterpiece, it is his two centuries against England that have left a special mark on the memories of Indian cricket fans. In 1993, England arrived in India plagued by illness and poor team selection. Their opponents, in contrast, had a young star who was already creating giant waves in Indian cricket. Sachin Tendulkar had stolen the show with centuries in Manchester, Sydney, Perth and Johannesburg. However, in Chennai, Sachin Tendulkar showed his magic in front of thousands as he put on an exhibition.
Sachin Tendulkar smashed 165 in a knock that included 24 fours and one six. It was his first century at home and it was fitting that it would come at this historic venue. India won the match by an innings as they went on to whitewash England 3-0 in that series. However, 15 years later, Sachin Tendulkar would produce a moment of inspiration that galvanised an entire nation reeling from a bloody terrorist attack.
The 2008 moment of brilliance
In November 2008, India was scarred by the terror attacks in Mumbai which left 166 people dead. England canceled the remaining ODI leg of the tour but they were convinced to stay back for the two Tests. In the first Test in Chennai, India conceded a 75-run lead with Andrew Strauss hitting a century and Sachin Tendulkar being dismissed for 37 by Andrew Flintoff. Strauss hit a century again as India were set a target of 387. In an inspired moment of brilliance, Virender Sehwag blasted 83 off 68 balls and he was given great support by Gautam Gambhir who hit 66. When Sehwag fell for 83 and Rahul Dravid was dismissed cheaply, India was stuttering.
In came Sachin Tendulkar and he showed his brilliance. The master shared a partnership of 163 with Yuvraj Singh who hit an unbeaten 85. Sachin Tendulkar hit 103 and he ensured India achieved the third-highest successful chase in the history of Test cricket. All the critics who had said Sachin Tendulkar did not score a century in a winning cause in the fourth innings were now forced to tone down. The knock of 103 helped India overcome the pain and anguish of the terror attack in Mumbai and the celebrations that followed after the match was a sight.
In both 1993 and 2008, England paid a heavy price as Sachin Tendulkar produced moments of inspiration. Indeed, Indian cricket fans will always remember Chepauk for the wizardry of Sachin Tendulkar against England.