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

Australia Tour in 1992 (Including World Cup)

Sachin was an integral part of the team by 1991-92.

By the end of his first tour to Australia, Sachin had well and truly arrived. Playing all the matches in the series, Sachin's big moment came during the third Test of the series - the new year Test at Sydney.

With India batting second, Sachin came out to bat with his team in a rather comfortable position. Shane Warne was making his debut and Ravi Shastri at the other end was making sure that the young leggie would not settle down.

Sachin too played his natural game and attacked. A 196-run partnership was ended by Warne, who picked up Ravi Shastri as his maiden wicket, not before he had scored a double century.

Sachin forged useful partnerships with the lower order batsmen - with Manoj Prabhakar's assistance again being useful. Sachin finished on 148 not out and followed up this performance with yet another hundred in the fifth and final Test at Perth.

Sachin was also India's leading run scorer in the tri-series with 400-plus runs including four fifties in ten matches. Yet another highlight of the tri-series was his tight seam-up bowling to affect a tie, taking West Indies' last wicket in his only over - thanks to a brilliant catch by Azharuddin.

In the World Cup that followed (hosted by Australia and New Zealand), Sachin was India's second highest run-scorer and scored three fifties. In fact, amidst one of India's most disappointing World Cups to date, Sachin was the man of the match in both of India's only two victories in the tournament - in the matches against Zimbabwe and champions Pakistan.