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OTD In 1994: Sachin Tendulkar’s Maiden ODI Ton Marks The Beginning Of An Iconic Era

Poulomi Chakraborty

Sachin Tendulkar's First ODI Ton (Source: @CricketopiaCom/x.com)Sachin Tendulkar's First ODI Ton (Source: @CricketopiaCom/x.com)

Cricket has produced countless jewels, but the crown still rests on Sachin Tendulkar’s head. Legacy across the format, prolific batter, outstanding skills, a career full of stunning achievements, and an unmatched aura, the Master Blaster became an institution in himself.

Among all his achievements, September 9 will always be special as the God of Indian Cricket smashed his first ODI hundred. Sri Lanka’s iconic R. Premadasa Stadium witnessed the glorious chapter of his career.

A Prolonged Drought Writes A Glorious Chapter

In 1989, a 16-year-old boy from Mumbai stepped onto the ODI stage for India, unaware that he was destined to redefine the nation’s cricketing story. While Sachin Tendulkar's bat roared in the Test format, his ODI journey didn’t follow the same route. In nearly five years, he played 76 innings in the 50-over format but was still looking for his maiden ODI hundred.

But the script flipped in the Singer World Series in Colombo in 1994. On September 9, Team India faced Australia, and a fairytale was waiting for Tendulkar. Earlier that year, he witnessed a major shift in his career after he was promoted to the opening position, and in the match against the Aussies, Tendulkar unleashed his best version.

While opening the innings with Manoj Prabhakar, he went to attack the lethal Australian bowling attack. Passing his half-century mark in 43 balls, Master Blaster showcased his trademark shots along with aggressive stroke play. The moment of destiny arrived as he crossed the three-figure mark, finishing with a brilliant 110 off 130 balls, laced with eight fours and two sixes.

Team India’s Dominating Win Over The Aussies

In the 90s, Australia was unstoppable, but on that day, the grit of Sachin Tendulkar rewrote the story. As Team India’s batting order struggled against Australia’s lethal bowling attack, he stood tall and pushed India to put on a strong total of 246 runs in the allotted 50 overs.

Chasing the target, Australia tried hard to turn the game in their favor, but the Indian bowlers took away the match. Manoj Prabhakar led the attack with three wickets, and Rajesh Chauhan secured 2 crucial scalps. As the other bowlers kept the domination alive, Australia ended their innings in 215 runs, and the Men in Blue secured a 31-run victory.

From First Hundred To Forever Legend

Sachin Tendulkar’s greatness in Tests is well known, but the Master Blaster also built an unforgettable empire in ODIs. That innings against Australia didn’t just bring his maiden ODI hundred; it marked the dawn of a glorious chapter in cricketing history. After that, Tendulkar never looked back and made an unshakable fort of milestones in the format.

In the ODIs, he played 463 matches and scored 18426 runs and scored 49 centuries. His 49th century came in the Asia Cup 2012 against Bangladesh. The feat remained untouched before Virat Kohli passed on Master Blaster’s record during the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Just not a tale of hundreds, he smashed his only double hundred in the ODIs in 2010 against South Africa as he was unbeaten, scoring 200 runs in 147 deliveries. That knock wasn’t just a personal milestone; it was a moment that lifted Indian cricket to new heights. Players may come and go, but Sachin remains the eternal foundation of the game, his legacy towering, timeless, and undisputed.