Sachin Tendulkar's ODI centuries: Numbers 31 to 35

With 49 ODI centuries – a world record – Sachin Tendulkar captured the attention of the cricketing world each time he notched up a triple-figure knock irrespective of the format. Towards the tail end of the twentieth century and with the inception of the twenty-first, Tendulkar had formed one of the most threatening opening pairs in ODI cricket alongside Sourav Ganguly.

Together, the duo had put on 6,609 runs, including 21 century stands for the first wicket, both of which are still world records despite them having last opened in 2007.

Many of Tendulkar's centuries had come with Ganguly in company, and let us take a look back at his ODI centuries numbers 31 to 35.

#31 – 146 vs Kenya: Paarl, 2001

India 351/3 in 50 overs (Tendulkar 146, Ganguly 111; Odoyo 3/67) beat Kenya 165/5 in 50 overs (Otieno 40; Yuvraj 2/35, Harbhajan 1/14) by 186 runs

In a tri-series in South Africa with Kenya being the other team, India had already endured three losses in their first five matches. In the final match of the third round-robin matches, India's openers Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly came out all guns blazing. They hammered their highest opening stand of 258 before captain Ganguly departed for 111. Tendulkar followed soon after, but in a knock of 146 at a strike rate of 110, he had set the tone for a massive total batting first.

He hit 17 fours in his stay at the crease for 132 balls, as Kenya's new ball bowler Martin Suji suffered the most with figures of 0/81 in only 7 overs. Tendulkar was the Man of the Match for his huge score as India put up 351 on the board and cruised to the final of the tri-series against South Africa.

#32 – 105* vs England: Chester-le-Street, 2002

Tendulkar's knock of 105* went in vain as rain washed out the tri-series match against England

No Result: India 285/4 in 50 overs (Tendulkar 105*, Dravid 82; Gough 2/52) and England 53/1 in 12.3 overs (Trescothick 23, Knight 17*; Zaheer 1/31)

In yet another tri-series match (this time involving hosts England and Sri Lanka), Tendulkar shifted down to number four, hit a crucial 105* after India's top order had slipped early. Though the knock went in vain with rain washing out the match, Tendulkar steadied India's ship after the visitors were reduced to 52/3 by the new ball pair of Darren Gough and James Kirtley. From that position, Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid posted 169 for the fourth wicket in which the latter contributed a patient 82 from 117 balls.

But Tendulkar continued to strike well with Yuvraj Singh for company. In an innings of 108 balls consisting of 8 fours and a six, he and Yuvraj took India to 285/4. Yuvraj did his part as well, as he contributed a whirlwind 40* off 19 balls. Their rapid partnership of 64 in less than six overs amounted to nothing as the heavens opened up during England's innings and ruined the game.

#33 – 113 vs Sri Lanka: Bristol, 2002

Tendulkar's 113 took India to a match-winning total in the tri-series game against Sri Lanka in 2002

India 304 in 50 overs (Tendulkar 113, Mongia 48; Samaraweera 2/39) beat Sri Lanka 241 in 44.1 overs (Sangakkara 66, Atapattu 53; Harbhajan 4/46) by 63 runs

In what was the last match before England and India eventually met in the final of the tri-series, Tendulkar ensured that India topped the table with a comfortable win over Sri Lanka. After India were 73/2 with both openers gone, Tendulkar and Dinesh Mongia put on 99 as the left-handed Mongia made 48. India then lost Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh cheaply, but Tendulkar then joined hands with Mohammad Kaif to push the total beyond 300.

He was the sixth to fall after a knock of 113 from 102 balls as India piled up quick runs at the death. Tendulkar hit 12 fours and a six as his stand of 74 in eleven overs with Kaif helped India pile on a hefty total. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 241 with Harbhajan Singh picking up four wickets.

#34 – 152 vs Namibia: Pietermaritzburg, 2003

In a knock of 152 in the 2003 World Cup, Tendulkar accumulated runs all around the ground

India 311/2 in 50 overs (Tendulkar 152, Ganguly 112*; van Vuuren 2/53) beat Namibia 130 in 42.3 overs (Burger 29; Yuvraj 4/6, Mongia 2/24) by 181 runs

India had a virtual cakewalk against minnows Namibia in this Pool A encounter between the sides in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. At Peitermaritzburg, Tendulkar combined with Sourav Ganguly yet again to hammer the opposition bowlers with a massive partnership of 244 for the second wicket. In a one-sided encounter, the experienced left-right pair got runs at will against a feeble bowling attack that naturally lacked any force and shot up the score from 46 to 290.

Tendulkar departed with just over two overs to spare but not before bashing 152 at just over a run a ball. His innings featured 18 fours with runs all around the City Oval ground and won him the Man of the Match award after Yuvraj Singh's part-time spin befuddled Namibia, who were dismissed for 130 to give India an easy victory.

#35 – 100 vs Australia: Gwalior, 2003

At Gwalior against Australia, Tendulkar's 100 and VVS Laxman's 102 set up India's win

India 283/5 in 50 overs (Laxman 102, Tendulkar 100; Bracken 3/53) beat Australia 246/9 in 50 overs (Gilchrist 83, Hayden 47; Zaheer 3/49) by 37 runs

Tendulkar made up for twin failures against Australia in the 2003 World Cup eight months back when in a tri-series also involving New Zealand, he posted a 100 at Gwalior in a round-robin match.

Though the game could never match the hype of a World Cup encounter, Tendulkar and VVS Laxman both scored centuries and added 190 after India lost the first wicket early. Tendulkar faced 119 balls, in the process getting 9 fours and a six, as the partnership lasted almost 39 overs to puncture the visitors.

Yuvraj Singh and Ajit Agarkar ended the Indian innings perfectly with big hits in the death overs, and while Australia began with a 132-run opening stand, Zaheer Khan and the spinners choked them in the chase to steal the momentum they had gained early in their reply. India won by 37 runs and Tendulkar walked away with another player of the match award.