The Master's Jewels: The 10 best Test innings by Sachin Tendulkar

3. 169 vs South Africa, Cape Town, 1997

The South African safari turned out to be a nightmare for Sachin and his boys as they ran up against the fearsome might of a pace attack led by the aggressive Allan Donald and the accurate Shaun Pollock.

Within no time, half the side was back in the hut with less than 60 on the board, and the skipper was out in the middle waging a lone fight. Then Mohammad Azharuddin strode out to join him.

For the next couple of hours, it was vintage stuff from both batsmen. Tendulkar, wielding the heavy MRF bat like a blade, flayed the bowling to all parts of the ground, while Azhar employed those silken wrists to telling effect.

The former skipper departed for a well-made century, but Tendulkar soldiered on, unleashing drive after scorching drive and pulling with gay abandon, even as he started running out of partners.

He progressed to 100, then 150, and was the last man out to a spectacular catch from Adam Bacher, who leaped to pluck the ball out of thin air in one hand at deep square leg. The great man was stunned, but was accorded a standing ovation by his own team as he made his way back to the pavilion.

Despite his exploits, South Africa won the game handsomely on the back of a phenomenal performance from all-rounder Brian McMillan. Nevertheless, this still remains one of his best knocks ever.

Sachin celebrating his ton

2. 103* vs England, Chennai, 2008

After the November attacks in Mumbai, interest in cricket had dipped to an alarming low, and it needed something heroic to bring people back to the game.

It was fitting, perhaps, that the act would be carried out by someone who had long held the banner of Indian cricket flying high for nearly two decades – Sachin Tendulkar.

Centuries from Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood in the second innings enabled England to set a target of 387 for the hosts to chase on a fifth day track at Chennai. Tricky stuff indeed!

But Tendulkar unleashed a vintage innings, dispelling thoughts of another abject surrender, as he combined beautifully with the redoubtable Yuvraj Singh after England had managed to weather the Sehwag-Gambhir storm initially.

He swept Graeme Swann to the fine leg fence to bring up his century and the win, and dedicated his innings to the people of Mumbai. A gallant knock, and a magnificent gesture from a gentleman!

Sachin and Yuvraj crossing for a run during the 2008 Chennai Test

1. 136 vs Pakistan, Chennai, 1999

Pain formed the core of this knock, pain led to the rush of blood, and the end result of the game also caused pain -not only to the Indian fans, but also to the great man himself. He would achieve his redemption nine years later.

But the way Sachin kept battling on to chase a target of 271 reminded people that he was, in no way, willing to throw in the towel against the likes of Wasim, Waqar and Saqlain. A chronic back problem which flared up during the course of the game had forced him to wear a brace to alleviate the pain somewhat.

He found an able partner in wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia, and the two kept the runs flowing, chipping away at the target while circumventing Saqlain’s web of mystery – he had unleashed the doosra for the first time on the Indians.

They had progressed to 218 when Mongia, having lost patience, charged out to Wasim and skied a catch to Waqar, ending the long alliance. And when Saqlain removed the clearly struggling Sachin for a well-crafted 136, it was all over for the home team.

It still remains Sachin’s finest innings despite the defeat, and he wiped the slate clean in 2008 on the same ground against England, ending the pain and misery he had carried for nine years.

Sachin against Pakistan

*Updated on May 26, 2014