13 performances that gave Sachin Tendulkar 'The God of Cricket' status (Pre-2000)

1999 Chennai Test

Sachin's fighting 136 against Pakistan at Chennai in January 1999 came when all other batsmen were down and out.

The beauty of India-Pakistan cricket lies in its unpredictability. Pakistan's tour of India in January 1999 also lived up to its hype. In the first Test at Chennai, while the difference between the two team's scores was just 16 runs, a swashbuckling 141 from Shahid Afridi helped in Pakistan setting India a stiff target of 271 runs.

Indian batsmen struggled against the likes of Wasim, Waqar, Saqlain, and Afridi, and were reeling at 82 for five. If Sachin's 136 was among his top twenty, Nayan Mongia's effort in this match was certainly one of his best ever.

A hard fought 52 from the wicket-keeper batsman put victory within India's sight, with the team requiring just 53 runs with both the batsmen at the crease. However, Mongia pulled a good length ball from Wasim Akram, which got the leading edge straight to Waqar Younis at mid-off.

The hopes were still alive, with Sachin taking India within 17 runs of the target with four wickets still left. Sachin then tried to hit Saqlain Mushtaq's doosra - which he had not picked - over long on and was caught by Wasim at mid-off. Saqlain and Wasim took the remaining three wickets for just four runs, and Pakistan won the match.

Besides individual performances, the match is also remembered for a standing ovation from the Chennai crowd for the Pakistan team during their victory lap - a rare gesture given the tense history between the two countries. Although new, dependable players had emerged, people's faith on Sachin as the lone warrior had grown fourfold.