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

World Cup 1996

Sachin was in sensational form during the 1996 World Cup, finishing as top scorer.

By mid-nineties, one thing was taken for granted. And that was that come what may, Sachin will score. Sachin lived up to this reputation on most days during the 90's. And the 1996 World Cup was no exception to that rule.

Sachin scored an astonishing 523 runs in just seven innings at an average of over 87 and at a strike rate of 86. He scored two centuries and three fifties, and only one score of less than 30 - in a match India easily won against Zimbabwe.

Two of his best innings came against the two finalists of the tournament. The first, a 84-ball 90 against runners-up Australia at his home ground in Mumbai went in vain as India eventually fell short by 16 runs at the Wankhede.

A similar result followed in India's very next match against Sri Lanka at Delhi, where even his run-a-ball 137 was not good enough as Jayasuriya's sensational hitting made Sri Lanka's 272-run chase easy.

But Sachin did not lose heart and carried his momentum into the knockouts, where a steady 90-run opening partnership helped India get to a match-winning score against defending champions Pakistan in the quarterfinal.

Chasing 252 in the semifinal at Kolkata, Sachin got India off to a steady start despite the early loss of Navjot Sidhu's wicket. India were 98 for 1 in 22.3 overs and Sachin was batting on 65.

The wicket had slowed down, and while Sachin ran off after playing a leg glance to Jayasuriya, the ball hitting his thigh pad. The ball had gone only as far as into the hands of the wicketkeeper Kaluwitharana, and by the time Sachin realized it, he had been stumped. A collapse followed and India lost another six wickets in the space of just 22 runs.

The match had to be called off due to crowd agitation and was rewarded to Sri Lanka. The crying face of Vinod Kambli - one of the unbeaten batsmen along with Kumble - while walking off the field, was the image of India's disappointment of the shattering of a World Cup dream.

According to Javagal Srinath, Sachin chose not to cry and focus on the next tournament. His World Cup dream was fulfilled fifteen years later.