Sachin Tendulkar Cuts Cake To Celebrate 25 Years Of His Historic ‘Desert Storm’ Innings Against Australia
Saturday 22 April 2023
Sachin Tendulkar Desert Storm: The ‘Master Blaster’ played one of the greatest One Day International innings on April 22, 1998 against Australia in Sharjah.
Cricket Legend Sachin Tendulkar celebrated the 25th anniversary of his historic “desert storm” innings against Australia at Sharjah by cutting a cake amid fans at an event in Mumbai. Tendulkar also interacted with his fans at this event ahead of his 50th birthday on April 24.
“I don’t think whatever I have been able to achieve would have been possible without your support, love & affection. That positive energy gave me the strength to go out and do what I did for India. The dream was to play for India, to lift that beautiful trophy – the birth of that dream took place in 1983. From there on till 2011, I only had one desire in life – hold that beautiful trophy,” he said while addressing the fans on Saturday as corroborated by an ANI report.
The right-handed batter is currently part of the Mumbai Indians’ franchise support staff and was part of the dressing room when Arjun Tendulkar, his son, made his IPL debut for the same franchise which he captained during its initial years. Sachin and Arjun Tendulkar also became the first-ever father-son duo to play in the IPL.
Talking about the iconic Desert Storm innings, the match at Sharjah against Australia was part of a triangular series also involving New Zealand. Prior to this, India-Australia Game on April 22, 1998, Team India had won just one out of their three games and Australia had already won their first three games to secure a place in the finals.
This was a must-win game for India to set up a titular contest against the Kangaroos. However, Australia ended up setting up an intimidating total of 284 for 7 in their 50 overs despite Venkatesh Prasad’s 2/41 in his 8 overs. Michael Bevan, one of the greatest finishers ever to have played the game, scored 101 off 103 balls to take the Aussies to a strong total.
In response, Tendulkar produced what is regarded as among the all-time best knocks ever played in a One-Day International. Against a formidable Australian attack comprising of the likes of Shane Warne, Michael Kasprowicz, Damien Fleming and Tom Moody, Tendulkar spared no one and attacked everyone.
Two sand storms hit Sharjah that day- one the actual one that interrupted the match and gave India a revised target of 276 in 46 overs and the other metaphorical from the bat of Sachin that almost blew away the mighty Aussies. Tendulkar, however, couldn’t get India past the finish line and Fleming ended a masterclass off an innings worth 143 off 131 with India’s scoreboard reading 242/5. Victory was still in sight for India as they needed 34 from 18 balls but the rest of the batters could only accumulate 8 runs from the next 3 overs to lose the game, handing Australia a victory by 26 runs. However, for his 9 fours and 5-sixes laden innings, Tendulkar was declared as the Player of the Match.
