October 9, 2010: India were playing a two-match Test series against Australia on home soil. They were 1-0 up in the series and the second Test was played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The Aussies batted first and amassed 478 runs riding on Marcus North’s ton. The highlight of the Indian innings was a 309-run stand between Murali Vijay and Sachin Tendulkar. While Vijay completed his maiden Test ton, Tendulkar slammed his 49th in Test matches and 11th against the Aussies. He entertained the crowd with 22 boundaries and two sixes. Indian bowlers bundled out the visitors for just 223 runs in their second innings and needed 207 runs to win the match. Sachin scored 53 runs in the second innings as well, and India won the series 2-0.
Result: India won by seven wickets
Man of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar
November 6, 2008: Australia had come to India for a four-match Test series. India were leading 1-0 after three matches and fourth was played at Nagpur.
Batting first, India scored 441 runs in the first innings, courtesy another stupendous knock from Tendulkar. The Little Master came to bat at number four and slammed his 10th century against Australia. Tendulkar and Laxman added 146 runs for the fourth wicket partnership. Tendulkar was finally dismissed by Johnson.
Result: India won by 172 runs
January 24, 2008: In the fourth Test match, Indian batsmen once again put a good show in the first innings. Tendulkar, who came to bat at number 4, added 106 runs with VVS Laxman for the fifth wicket. None of the top order batsmen scored a huge knock but Tendulkar’s innings was a delight to watch and his contest with the Aussie bowlers was a delight to watch. His innings comprised of 13 boundaries and three sixes.
India posted 526 runs in the first innings and managed to draw the Test match.
Result: Match drawn
Man of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar
January 2, 2008: India were touring Australia for a Test series in 2007-08. India lost the first Test at Melbourne but put a fight back in the second.
Australia batting first scored 463 runs in their first innings. In reply, VVS Laxman and Dravid got India into a strong position as they added 175 runs for the second wicket partnership. It was followed by another magnificent knock from Tendulkar – 154 runs which came off 243 balls and despite Ponting’s tactics to stop him from scoring runs, the Little Master slammed his third ton at the Sydney Cricket Ground. His innings comprised of 14 boundaries and a six and he was also involved in a record 129-run stand with Harbhajan Singh for the eighth wicket.
It was a match that would be remembered for extremely poor umpiring. It was the same match where Bhajji was handed over a three-match suspension by match referee Mike Proctor for his alleged racial abuse to Symonds.
Result: Australia won by 122 runs
India were playing in Australia in what was Steve Waugh’s last Test.
January 2, 2004: Ganguly won the toss and chose to bat first. The top order made some useful contributions, after which Tendulkar and VVS Laxman stitched a massive 353-run partnership for the third wicket that boosted India’s total to a huge 705 runs.
It was Tendulkar’s highest first class score then and his innings comprised of 33 boundaries. He also reached 9,000 Test runs during this innings. It is rated as one of Tendulkar’s finest knocks.
Result: Match drawn
Man of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar
March 18, 2001: Steve Waugh-led Australian team were touring India for a three-match series.
In the third match, Australia scored 391 runs batting first. Indian top order gave a fitting reply to the Aussies and Tendulkar went on to score another century. Shiv Sunder Das (84), Sadagopan Ramesh (61), VVS Laxman (65) and Rahul Dravid (81), everybody made significant contributions while Tendulkar before being dismissed by Gillespie, scored 126 runs. It was Sachin’s 169 run-partnership with Rahul Dravid that gave India a 110-run lead in the first innings. After winning the previous Test at Eden Gardens in emphatic style, India sealed the series 2-1 by winning this Test match.
Result: India won by 2 wickets
December 26, 1999: While touring Australia, India were playing the second Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Australia scored 405 runs in their first innings. India got off to a poor start as Ramesh, Laxman and Dravid departed in quick successions. Tendulkar, who loved playing against the Aussies, once again rose to the occasion and slammed 116 runs. The Australian attack boasted of the likes of McGrath, Lee and Shane Warne who were helpless against such a determined knock. Sachin went on to score 52 runs in the second innings as well and won the Man of the Match despite India losing the Test match.
Result: Australia won by 180 runs.
Man of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar
March 25, 1998: The second Test of the Border-Gavaskar trophy was held at the Eden Gardens which India convincingly by an innings and 219 runs. In the third Test, the Bangalore crowd witnessed another stellar innings from the Little Master where he hammered 177 runs off just 207 balls. Even though Tendulkar won the Man of the Series award, Australia won the third Test.
Result: Australia won by 8 wickets.
March 6, 1998: It was the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia.
Sachin failed to do anything substantial in the first innings and Australia took a 71-run lead. But in the second, Tendulkar was in a different mood as he punished the Australian bowlers, including Shane Warne who dismissed him in the first innings and slammed 115 runs off just 191 balls. Australia needed 348 runs to win but were bundled out for just 168 runs as Indian spinners ripped through their batting line-up.
Result: India won by 179 runs
Man of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar
February 1, 1992: Tendulkar came to bat while India had lost two wickets for just 69 runs and while the team continued to lose wickets at regular intervals, Sachin went on to score his second ton of the series and also stitched a record ninth wicket partnership for India against Australia – of 81 runs – with Kiran More. Even though the Aussies won the match, 18-year-old Tendulkar had impressed everybody with his unique ability to soak pressure.
Result: Australia won by 300 runs
January 2, 1992: Batting against the likes of Craig McDerMott, Merve Hughes and Bruce Reid, Sachin Tendulkar once again entered the history books by becoming the youngest Indian batsman to score a Test century in Australia. The match was also significant considering it was Shane Warne’s debut match and the leg-spinner went for 150 runs and picked just one wicket of Ravi Shastri who scored a double century.
Result: Match drawn