5 most heroic Indian Test performances at the MCG

#2. Sachin Tendulkar plays out a timeless classic of 116

Sachin Tendulkar

The 90s were a hostile time to tour Australia. They had a formidable batting and bowling lineup which spared no one. The visiting Indian team was blown away in the first Test at Adelaide as they conceded a 285-run loss. The demoralized unit arrived at the intimidating MCG for the second Test.

India won the toss and inserted Australia to bat in the overcast conditions. The rain kept intervening and the home side reached 405 all out in the first session on day three. India lost the opener Sadagopan Ramesh just before the lunch and VVS Laxman immediately after it. Sachin Tendulkar walked out to bat at 11/2 on a vicious track against the bowling attack of Glenn McGrath, Damien Fleming, Shane Warne and the debutant Brett Lee.

After Dravid’s fall, Ganguly partnered Tendulkar’s resistance. The Australian bowling attack kept chipping away at the other end but Sachin stood unmoved. On a difficult track, he returned fire with fire and played one of his best counter-attacking knocks against world-class bowlers. India had avoided follow-on when Sachin was dismissed for a legendary 116. He was the top-scorer with 52 in India’s second-innings collapse for 195.

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