On this day in 2021, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar made headlines by becoming the first batter ever to score 100 international centuries. This incredible milestone was achieved during India’s Asia Cup match against Bangladesh at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
Opening the batting for India, Tendulkar played a remarkable innings, scoring 114 runs off 147 balls, which included 12 fours and a six. The Indian team experienced a shaky start, losing Gautam Gambhir early. However, Tendulkar soon found his rhythm, partnering with Virat Kohli for a crucial 148-run partnership that helped stabilize the innings and put India in a strong position.
Tendulkar reached his historic 100th hundred off 139 balls. Unfortunately, his impressive innings came to an end when he was dismissed by Mashrafe Mortaza. Alongside Tendulkar, Kohli and Suresh Raina contributed significant scores of 66 and 51, respectively. MS Dhoni also added a quickfire 21 runs off just 11 balls, bringing India’s total to 289 runs.
Despite Tendulkar’s historic achievement, India ended up losing the match by five wickets. Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal was the star of the chase, scoring 70 runs, while Jahurul Islam and Nasir Hossain contributed valuable fifties to keep Bangladesh in the hunt. Shakib Al Hasan’s quick 49 off 31 balls, along with Mushfiqur Rahim’s 46 off 25, sealed the victory for Bangladesh.
Tendulkar’s 100th century came after a wait of nearly 369 days and 23 matches. Reflecting on the difference between his first and 100th centuries, he shared, “After scoring my first hundred, I never realized that 99 more would follow. When I was stuck on 99, many people had advice for me, not understanding that I had 99 behind me.” In total, Tendulkar scored 51 hundreds in Test matches and 49 in One Day Internationals (ODIs).
