November 5, 2009: Australia toured India in November 2009 for a seven-match ODI series. The series was leveled at 2-2 after the first four matches.
In the fifth match, Australia put a massive 350 runs on the board batting first, courtesy two good knocks from Shaun Marsh (112) and Shane Watson (93). In reply, Sachin and Sehwag added 66 runs for the first wicket. But all of a sudden, India lost wickets in quick successions and Tendulkar fought a forlorn battle alone. He found some company in Suresh Raina (59) and these two added 137 runs for the fifth wicket. But once Raina was dismissed by Watson, other batsmen couldn’t contribute much, as Tendulkar too fell when India needed 18 runs to win. Even though India lost the thriller, it was one of Tendulkar’s finest ODI knocks. He faced just 141 balls and blasted 19 boundaries and four sixes.
Result: Australia won by 3 runs
Man of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar
India had made it to the best-of-three-final of the CB Series tournament which was a tough ask against Australia on their home soil.
March 2, 2008: Australia won the toss and decided to bat first keeping in mind Indian team’s habit of succumbing to the pressure of big matches. Australia lost their top order for just 24 runs but it was a brilliant innings from Hayden (82) that brought the Australian innings back on track. Australia posted 239 runs at the end of 50 overs and it was definitely not what they would have liked to score against India.
India openers Uthappa and Tendulkar added 50 runs for the opening wicket. Uthappa, Gambhir and Yuvraj fell in quick successions as Tendulkar found some support in Rohit Sharma (66) and both of them added 123 runs for the fourth wicket. India won the match by 6 wickets and Tendulkar went on to score his 42nd ODI ton. It was a special innings from Tendulkar as he hadn’t scored a century in Australia on 38 innings before this one and also because it put India 1-0 ahead in the best-of-three finals. In the second match, Tendulkar scored 91 runs and India won the series on Australian soil
Result: India won by 6 wickets
Man of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar
October 26, 2003: India were hosting a triangular series with New Zealand and Australia on home turf.
After losing the wicket of Sehwag for a duck, in-form Tendulkar and VVS Laxman pummeled the Australian bowlers with a 190-run stand for the second wicket. As a result of this massive partnership, India reached a formidable score of 283 runs. In reply, Gilchrist (83) and Hayden (47) got Australia to a good start but they fell short of the target towards the end.
Result: India won by 37 runs
Man of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar
March 31, 2001: India were now playing an ODI series against the Aussies. Both the teams had won one match each and the series was levelled at 1-1.
Batting first, India lost the wicket of Dravid early in the innings after which Tendulkar and Laxman put on 199 runs for the second wicket. Tendulkar’s innings had 19 boundaries which included some magnificent strokes. It was a special match for the Little Master as he became the first batsman to reach 10, 000 runs in ODIs.
Result: India won by 118 runs.
Man of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar
October 28, 1998: Bangladesh hosted the inaugural ICC Champions Trophy which was also known as the Mini World Cup. India were invited to bat first by Australia.
Sachin Tendulkar had been in sublime form against the Aussies in Sharjah and he continued to pummel their bowling attack and slammed another ton. Sachin’s knock included 13 boundaries and 3 sixes. India reached a good score of 307 runs. Tendulkar also became the hero with the ball as he claimed four wickets and ripped through Australian middle-order.
Result: India won by 44 runs
Man of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar
April 24, 1998: Tendulkar was playing some incredible cricket and the crowd had turned up in massive numbers on the occasion of his 25th Birthday.
Australia once again batted first and posted a total of 272 runs. Sachin who opened the innings once again entertained the crowd with a stupendous knock where he once again made Shane Warne look like a mediocre bowler. Sachin scored 134 runs from 131 balls and this time won the tournament for India.
Result: India won by 6 wickets.
Man of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar
April 22, 1998: In what is hailed as one of Tendulkar’s finest knocks ever, the Little Master once again took his game to a different level against the Aussies. Batting first in the last league match of the Coca-Cola Cup, Australia put a formidable score of 284 runs after Michael Bevan slammed an unbeaten ton (101*).
India lost the wicket of Ganguly early in the innings after which Sachin and Nayan Mongia added 69 runs for the second wicket. But India soon lost three quick wickets and to make matter worse, a sandstorm interrupted the proceedings at Sharjah. Once play resumed, India needed 94 runs in 84 balls.
But an unperturbed Tendulkar enthralled the crowd with a series of incredible strokes and slammed 143 runs from 131 balls. Sachin single-handedly took the team to the final of the tournament even though Australia won the match.
Result: Australia won by 26 runs (D/L method)
Man of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar
April 7, 1998: India were hosting a triangular series after a comprehensive win against the Aussies. Zimbabwe was the third team in the tournament.
In the second match of the tournament, Indian bowlers restricted the Aussies to just 222 runs. The chase became a cakewalk for India as openers Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar added 175 runs for the first wicket. Ganguly was dismissed on 72 by Kasprowicz but Sachin went on and hammered a ton off just 88 balls.
Result: India won by 6 wickets.
Man of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar
September 9, 1994: It was a very special match for Tendulkar as after playing five years of international cricket, he slammed his maiden ODI ton against the Aussies in his 79th ODI match.
The tournament was Singer Cup and it was a must-win game for India having lost the first match to Sri Lanka. Sachin opened the innings with Manoj Prabhakar and scored 110 runs off 130 balls with 8 boundaries and two sixes. With this knock, Sachin surpassed his previous best score of 84 runs - scored against New Zealand at Auckland.
Result: India won by 31 runs
Man of the match: Sachin Tendulkar