Sachin Tendulkar is a cricket legend who has 100 international centuries to his name, and it’s difficult to remember them all. However, he has experienced some setbacks that have changed the course of his career. On this day in 2009, against Australia, one such inning occurred. When Australia visited India for a seven-match ODI series in October-November 2009, Sachin was 36 years old.
Since he had only hit eight tons in six years, the master blaster’s form was in question. With the 2011 ODI World Cup only two years away, speculation was rife as to whether he would make the cut.
But, as he has done so many times before, Sachin did it again this time with a devastating knock of 175 off 141 balls. On November 5, 2009, India and Australia played their fifth one-day international. The Australians had amassed a massive 351 points and acquired an unbeatable advantage.
Even though Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni couldn’t even go to double figures, he instantly switched gears. India was 162/4 when Dhoni was sent back, with Sachin now on 95.
Sachin finished his century and received help from Suresh Raina. Both of them put together a key 137-run partnership to get close to Australia’s total. Sachin comprehensively demolished the Australian attack with 19 fours and four sixes in his innings. With India still needing 20 runs to cross the finish line, the master blaster was ultimately bowled on 175 by a slower ball. Ravindra Jadeja and Praveen Kumar were both run out in the last two overs, making the last runs difficult to come by.