The Day Sachin Tendulkar Changed Cricket Forever — March 24, 2003
His 98 in the 2003 World Cup against Pakistan remains the greatest innings in the tournament's history. We go behind the scenes.
Centurion, March 24, 2003. India against Pakistan in the World Cup group stage. Both nations at a standstill; an estimated 1.5 billion people watching.
Shoaib Akhtar opened with 150 kph thunderbolts. Tendulkar's response was the pull shot — not a fend, not a deflection, but a dismissive, horizontal-bat pull over fine leg for six off the first ball of the second over. The stroke that set the tone for everything that followed.
He scored 98 off 75 deliveries. He was dropped three times by a Pakistan side paralysed by nerves and awe in equal measure. He fell six short of his century trying to accelerate as India approached the total.
It did not matter. India won by six wickets with more than five overs to spare. Tendulkar was carried from the field on Virendra Sehwag's shoulders.
Those who were there — players, press, spectators — still talk about it as the best innings they have ever seen in any format. The greatest stage, the greatest occasion, the greatest batsman at the peak of his powers.