The surreal cut over point for six. Followed by that turn of the wrist as the flick shot past square leg. And then arrived that moment … a stroke blazing the turf leaving behind a streak of the purest. A drive that was almost a defensive push, that sped between bowler and mid-on and kept travelling all the way. In those three deliveries, Shoaib Akhtar was knocked out. He went for 72 in his quota of 10 overs.

Faced with a steep target, India were on their way to what would be an outstanding win.

Two backfoot drives off Wasim Akram sped through the off-side, one more came off Waqar Younis. The fifty was up in 37 balls and Tendulkar punched the air in celebration.

In the 6 World Cups he played, Sachin Tendulkar scored 2278 runs 56.95 per innings and a strike rate of 88.98 with six hundreds and 15 fifties. However, this 75-ball 98 was perhaps the most memorable of them all. He overcame the Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar …all of them, and a recurrent pain that kept shooting through his leg.

A timeless gem.

Text: Arunabha Sengupta

Illustration: Maha