Sachin re-visits grueling 48 hours

Scoring a one-day international century against Australia in the late 1990s was no easy task.

Now try scoring two in the space of three days. In searing heat. In two knockout games. Oh, and throw in a sand storm for good measure.

Legend Sachin Tendulkar did just that, in April, 1998, to power India to a tri-series title in Sharjah, and the ‘Little Master’ has re-visited that grueling experience.

Tendulkar scored 143 against an Australian attack featuring the likes of Shane Warne, Damien Fleming and Michael Kasporwicz at Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium on April 22 with temperatures reaching a max of 41 degrees Celsius.

That innings became known as the ‘Desert Storm’ knock after play was suspended for 25 minutes while a wild sand storm swept through the stadium and reduced India’s victory target from 285 in 50 overs to 277 in 46.

While India fell 26 runs short of victory, Tendulkar’s hand lifted his side beyond the required 237 to edge out New Zealand and qualify for the final against Australia two days later. 

At the same venue on April 24 Tendulkar posted 134 – both efforts opening the batting – as India chased down Australia’s 9-272 to win the tournament by six wickets.

Speaking in Mumbai 20 years later, Tendulkar remembered the physical toll those two innings took on his body and his motivation to beat the best side in the world.

"Given the conditions in the month of April — the temperatures are really high and you can feel the heat going through your shoes and socks — and the first thing you want to do is to put your feet in the ice bucket," Tendulkar said on Thursday.

"In my case, that was one experience which I remember how tough it was to stay there and play the best team in the world — Australia was No.1 at that stage — and to beat them so convincingly was extremely satisfying."

Tendulkar continued recounting those two matches in which the heat, travel time and fatigue made the twin centuries that much more impressive.

"Those days we used to play in Sharjah and drive all the way back to Dubai," he said.

"By the time we got back to the hotel, unpacked and settled down, it was 2am or so when I went to sleep. 

"And the next day was for recovery and the following day was the final. It was not so easy."