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Heartbreak For IND Vs PAK! When Sachin Tendulkar Played An Epic Innings In Chennai '99 Test 

image-ls1g8nvpSachin Tendulkar [X.com]

Of all his great Test match innings for India, it is very difficult for even a die-hard Sachin Tendulkar fan to pick one as the legend's best ever. Tendulkar scored 51 centuries in the traditional format and remains the numero uno player in the game's history. 

However, if substance and defiance are to win the metrics race, the epic century in the Chennai 1999 Test run-chase against arch-rivals Pakistan would go down as perhaps the Master Blaster's finest knock ever. 

Facing a Pakistan attack glint with legends Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Saqlain Mushtaq, who were renowned for speed, menacing reverse swing and in Mustaq, the ability to turn the ball both ways, Tendulkar's magnificent 136 off 273 balls nearly took India home in the stiff fourth-innings chase of 271. 

On a surface that had worsened by Day 4 to become a spiteful turner where not only Mushtaq found venomous turn but Wasim, Waqar extracted great reverse swing and uneven bounce at times, the Indian maestro battled immense back pain and spasms to produce a timeless classic. 


When Tendulkar Nearly India Took Home Against Pakistan 

Despite collapsing to 5 for 82, Tendulkar held the fort ever so strongly and dominated the bowling at his end. The prolific Mumbaikar stitched a wonderful fightback in a partnership with the resilient Nayan Mongia, who played a knock of 52. 

The duo gave Pakistan a genuine scare by stretching the Indian score to 218 when the next wicket fell. Despite Mongia's departure, however, Sachin Tendulkar stood driven and inspired for victory and kept the pressure on Pakistan. 

But even the great man's magnum opus effort under scorching Chennai heat couldn't give the home side a win as Tendulkar's rare miscued stroke to be caught at mid-off resulted in his dismissal with still 17 required for the last three wickets to fetch. 

As it panned out, Pakistan feasted on the opportunity India provided them and India's fragile lower-order men could only add another four runs to the kitty in what remains a heartbreak for the ages.