Tendulkar added 117 for the second wicket with Vinod Kambli. India made 259/5 but only just scraped home by five runs.

The first of seven SRT hundreds at Sharjah. He makes an undefeated 112 off just 105 balls, in the course of which he crossed 3000 runs in ODIs, as India cruised to an eight wicket drubbing of Lanka inside 34 overs.

In India's opening fixture of the 1996 World Cup, Tendulkar lashes an unbeaten 127, adding 163 for the first wicket with Ajay Jadeja. Kenya's first ever ODI ends in a seven wicket defeat.

Tendulkar races to a run-a-ball 137, India's second highest individual ODI score after Kapil Dev's famous 175. He follows it up by bowling ten overs for 41 but Sri Lanka chase down a target of 272 with eight balls to spare. It is Tendulkar's first century in a losing cause.

Tendulkar makes an exact 100 but a rain interruption during the Indian innings sets up a revised target of 187 in 33 overs for Pakistan which they successfully pursue for the loss of just two wickets.

India amassed their first total above 300 in ODIs on the back of a 231 run second wicket stand between Tendulkar and Sidhu, at the time India's highest partnership for any wicket. Pakistan are fined two overs for a tardy over rate and go down by 28 runs.

During his 110, Tendulkar crosses Srikkanth's tally of 4092 to go into second place in the all time Indian run aggregates, behind Azharuddin. But India suffer the embarrassment of a nine wicket drubbing.

In this benefit game for Mohinder Amarnath - yes, the game which Hansie Cronje and Co. were offered to throw and finally rejected after much agonisation - at the fag end of South Africa's visit, Tendulkar made his first ODI century as captain. India cruised to victory by 74 runs in a game that was conferred official ODI status at the eleventh hour.

Tendulkar's first century outside Asia comes in the final round-robin league tie of the Standard Bank series. Chasing 241 and needing to get them in 40.5 overs to make the final, India make their requirement with nine balls to spare. Tendulkar's 97-ball blitz of 104 is made out of 158 scored while he was at the crease.

Tendulkar's 117 lifts India to an eight wicket victory over the Kiwis in their maiden engagement in the Independence Cup. Chasing 221, Tendulkar and Ganguly raise 169 for the first wicket.

Tendulkar wallops a century in just 88 balls, including five fours and seven sixes, before holing out off Warne. It is his first century in 33 games, Tendulkar's longest drought since his maiden ton. Another massive first wicket stand with Ganguly of 175 as India win by six wickets.

The famous game at Sharjah where India needed to make 276 in 46 overs to win but only 237 to qualify for the final ahead of New Zealand. Tendulkar's desire is not quenched by the minor satisfaction of qualifying. He runs amok like a runaway truck to garner 143 off just 131 balls. Tendulkar is out after seeing India through to the final with 34 still needed for victory from three overs. Once Sachin is gone, India are happy to lose by 26 runs.

In the final Tendulkar made another superlative 134 off 131 balls on his birthday to ferry India home by six wickets, chasing a target of 273. He appeared in total command before falling 25 runs shy of victory to a dodgy leg before decision off Michael Kasprowicz. Tendulkar collected a glut of prizes at the end of the tourney amongst which an Opel Astra, for being Player of the Tournament, was the jewel in the crown. 

Having lost to Kenya by 69 runs in the round-robin clash at Gwalior (Tendulkar making 18), India extracted revenge in the final. Chasing 197, Tendulkar smacked an unbeaten 100 from 103 balls as India cruised through in 35 overs.

Tendulkar and Ganguly produce their world record stand of 252 (in 44 overs) in the final of the Singer-Akai Nidahas Trophy before both are out in successive balls. Chasing 308, Sri Lanka look to be in total command of the situation at 272/4 in 43.2 overs but collapse alarmingly to lose by six runs.

On 29, a more difficult chance to Whittall at mid-off also went down. From then on, Tendulkar was immovable and his 18th one-day century, a new record as he passed Desmond Haynes' total of 17, seemed inevitable. He was particularly strong on the leg side, but also played a number of fine drives through extra cover. For most of his innings he was content to place ones and twos almost at will, saving boundaries only for the very loose balls. He did play a couple of other uppish strokes which landed clear of the field, but the only bowler to cause him any concern was Streak in his opening spell, who beat him on a couple of occasions.

As Sachin approached his century a hushed murmur in the crowd gradually grew into a buzz, and then further into a steady applause accompanied by chants of "Sachin, Sachin" as the Indian approached his century. On 99, Tendulkar pushed Lehmann out to long off, and before he had even completed the single which brought up his third successive one day hundred against Australia, the 40 thousand people packed into this stadium were on their feet, letting off firecrackers, and applauding an innings of the highest quality.

Tendulkar blasts an unbeaten 118 off 112 balls to lift India to a seven wicket triumph in their Champions Trophy first round-robin clash against Zimbabwe.

In India's second league clash against the same team, Henry Olonga has the temerity to hustle out Tendulkar with a short pitched delivery. Tendulkar collects retribution in the final savaging his fastest ever century off just 71 balls. Olonga is mecifully relieved from the attack after his first spell of four overs went for 41. Tendulkar ended up on 124, almost double Saurav Ganguly's 63 as India won a crushing 10 wicket victory.

Tendulkar finally reached three figures with an off-drive for two off Tikolo, to the great acclaim of the crowd. His century had taken him just 84 balls and was particularly marvellous effort considering all he has been though during the past five days. He quickly celebrated with a boundary through extra cover, and was now scoring off virtually every ball.

Initially, the elegant right hander chose to score most of his runs square of the wicket but, as the innings wore on, so his placement became more complete; his cover driving and late cutting especially impressive. And, even though he did appear to be suffering increasing pain in his back (he even doubled over after thumping one lofted straight drive) the further his exhibition progressed, the signs in his spectacular return to his best were almost all good for his team and its followers.

Tendulkar made the highest individual ODI score by an Indian, breaking Saurav Ganguly's record of less than six months. A rollicking 186 in just 150 balls rained from the master's blade, including 27 runs in the 49th over of the innings bowled by the unfortunate Chris Drum. Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid plundered 331 for the second wicket, a record partnership for any wicket in ODIs. India raced to 376/2, their highest total in ODIs and ran out lopsided winners by 174 runs.

Tendulkar carried on the baton as he notched up a priceless 122, lifting India to 256/2 in the 45th over before knocking a Kallis full toss into the hands of Elworthy at mid on. Putting behind him an indifferent run in the series, Tendulkar came good when it was most needed. Although he was not at his best, Tendulkar gamely inched India closer to victory with a patient innings but when he fell with 27 still needed in 29 balls, the panic buttons were pressed. Having added 80 for the third wicket with Tendulkar, Mohd. Azharuddin (39) fell soon after, also to a full toss, and the situation boiled down to 15 needed from the last 12 balls.

Tendulkar's 26th one day international century was the highlight of a generally lacklustre Indian innings. The 27-year-old batting maestro hit 101 but except for Robin Singh, none of the other batsman contributed anything substantial and India were restricted to 224 for eight in 50 overs. Four run outs compounded the Indians' agony.

Tendulkar's belligerence was not becalmed by Ganguly's dismissal. His cover driving was quite exquisite, played with a short backlift and minimum follow through, with the ball through the field in a flash. A delicate glide off Strang went between the wicketkeeper and slip with clockwork precision. When he struck Olonga over long off for his second six, Tendulkar had reached his half century in just 37 balls and 39 minutes of exhilarating batting. He was now giving an exemplary demonstration of all the strokes in the book: a straight drive that shaved the stumps at the bowler's end, the turn of the wrists from outside off stump to the midwicket fence and the cut off the backfoot between point and cover.

Tendulkar made 139 runs off 125 balls decorating his knock with 19 classy strokes past the ropes. This was Tendulkar's 28th ODI hundred and in the end it proved to be a match winning one. Indore went into the record books today, Tendulkar becoming the first batsman in the history of ODI cricket to reach the milestone of 10,000 runs. In the course of the Indian innings, Glenn McGrath became the third Australian to reach 200 wickets, when he bowled Vijay Dahiya for nought.

Sachin Tendulkar's 29th century, but only his second against West Indies, showcased his mastery of the art of pacing an innings in the one-day game. The old firm of Tendulkar & Ganguly came good to produce a century stand (133 to be precise) after a ten match hiatus. Tendulkar maintained his vigil at the crease for the entire duration of the run chase to collect victory with 11 balls to spare. He won his 3rd Man of the Match award in 4 games of the competition and a staggering 41st overall.