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

Debut International Tour - Pakistan 1989

Sachin impressed in his debut tour with his courage and maturity.

While his debut Test at Karachi was a dampener, Sachin scored his maiden fifty in just his second Test innings at Faisalabad and followed it up with a 41 at Lahore. But his toughest challenge came in the fourth Test at Sialkot, when India lost their first four wickets at a lead of just 112 on a fast wicket.

Pakistan was loaded with a pace-heavy attack consisting of Wasim, Waqar, Imran, and Zakir Khan. He was even struck on the nose by a Waqar Younis bouncer - and like the trend in those days, his helmet did not have a wiser.

He stood up, scored 57 and strung a 100-run partnership with opener Navjot Sidhu, and managed to draw the series for India - a big achievement during those days.

While the first ODI in Peshawar had to be abandoned due to bad light, the officials decided to organize a 20-over a side exhibition match for the spectators. Batting for the first time in a limited overs game against a full-fledged international attack, Sachin struck two sixes off young Mushtaq Ahmed and famously hit four sixes off an Abdul Qadir over, after the veteran had fired him up with some sledging.

India lost that game narrowly, and Sachin could not open his account in his first and only ODI of the series at Gujranwala. But his potential had been witnessed.