1998: SRT’s ‘God’ Year!
If one defining year is to be picked from Sachin Tendulkar’s glorious 24 years as an international cricketer, then it will be 1998. The master batsman was at the peak of his prowess, and kept delivering scintillating performances across the formats, against all opponents, and all over the world.
He just played 5 test matches that year, but plundered 647 runs with 3 centuries, 1 half century with an average above 80 and a strike rate above 75. But it was in the ODIs that his batting genius was fully unfurled. He played 33 innings in 34 matches, scoring a record 1894 runs with 9 centuries, 7 half centuries, 2 40-s and 2 30-s with an average more than 65. More importantly, these runs were scored at an eye-popping strike rate above 102!
As an icing on the cake, he also scored a century, and won the Man-of-the-match award in the prestigious Diana Memorial One-day match, captaining the Rest of the World against MCC It would be his only ton at Lord’s, but unfortunately this match was not an official international fixture.
There are so many memorable cricketing moments to cherish from that SRT-year. Here is a flashback!
Watch Sachin’s memorable cricketing exploits from 1998!
January 1998: Independence Cup (India-Pak-Bangladesh ODI triangular) in Bangladesh
Celebrating the golden jubilee of Independence, a triangular ODI tournament was played between India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Sachin Tendulkar began the tournament with a sedate 54 off 76 balls against Bangladesh, but in the following matches against Pakistan, he just went berserk, smashing 67 off 44 balls and 95 off 78 balls in the league matches, before hammering an explosive 41 off just 26 balls in the final. India won the tournament in a high-scoring thriller.
March 1998: India- Australia Test Series in India
When Mark Taylor’s top-ranked Australian team toured India, the series was hyped as a Sachin Versus Warne duel. Tendulkar had specifically prepared for this challenge and primed himself with an attacking double-century in the preceding Mumbai Vs Australia first-class match.
When the Test series began in Chennai, Sachin failed in the first innings; getting out for 4, caught at slip, playing an expansive drive against Warne. In the second innings, he walked in with the game in balance, and took the attack to Warne and company, scoring an authoritative unbeaten 155 to set up a memorable Indian victory.
In the next Test at Kolkata, India crushed Australia by an innings, with Sachin scoring a strokeful 79.
In the final Test at Bengaluru, Sachin was once again in his elements, scoring an aggressive 177 in the first innings. India folded up easily in the second innings (Sachin scoring 31!) and Australia scored a consolation victory.
Watch Sachin’s memorable cricketing exploits from 1998!
April 1998: India-Australia-Zimbabwe Pepsi Triangular ODIs in India
In the first half of April 1998, India played a triangular ODI series with Australia and Zimbabwe. By his standards, Sachin had a poor series as a batsman with scores 8, 5, 1 and 15 in 4 out of the 5 ODIs played.
Even in this lean trot, he came up with two scintillating match-winning performances, both against Australia in the league phase, once with the ball, and then, with the bat! In Kochi ODI, after failing with the bat, Sachin bamboozled the Aussie batsmen with his leg-spinners and googlies, ending up with figures of 5 for 32 in 10 overs. He scalped top batters like Steve Waugh, Michael Bevan, Darren Lehman, Tom Moody and Damien Martyn. In Kanpur ODI, Tendulkar scored one of his most attacking ODI centuries- 100 off 89 balls with 7 sixers and 5 fours to again steam-roll Australia.
In the final, Sachin failed and India lost to Australia!
April 1998: India-Australia-New Zealand Coca-Cola Cup Triangular ODIs in Sharjah
Arguably the most glittering chapter in SRT’s famed career was written in the second half of April 1998, when he almost single-handedly brought home the Coca-Cola Cup. The tournament was played between India, Australia and New Zealand in Sharjah.
Sachin scored 40 and 38 against New Zealand, but reserved his special batsmanship for Australia, scoring 80, 143 and 134 against the top team.
The dazzling 143 he scored on the night of a Sharjah- sand storm, when India was struggling to make the final on run-rate, is widely considered as one his most celebrated innings, and to top this ‘Desert Storm’, he scored an equally brilliant 134 in the finals to clinch the trophy on his twenty-fifth birthday!
Watch Sachin’s memorable cricketing exploits from 1998!
May 1998: India-Bangladesh-Kenya Pepsi Cup Triangular ODIs in India
In the second half of May, India played a short Pepsi Cup ODI Triangular with Bangladesh and Kenya. A relatively easy assignment turned tricky for India as the minnows Kenya beat them in the league match! In the final, playing against the same team, Sachin Tendulkar restored order with an unbeaten 100 to clinch the trophy.
June-July 1998: India-Sri Lanka-New Zealand Singer-Akai-Nidhas Triangular in Sri Lanka
In the late July and early August of 1998, India toured Sri Lanka to play in the Singer-Akai-Nidhas Triangular, where the third team was New Zealand.
Sachin began the tournament with two half-centuries- 65 against Sri Lanka and 53 against New Zealand, but again, his best was reserved for the final. His marvelous 128, and his opening partnership of 252 with Saurav Ganguly, made sure that India won the closely fought final against Sri Lanka to grab yet another trophy.
18 July 1998-Princess of Wales Memorial Match- Rest of the World versus MCC in England
Although unofficial, the Princess of Wales (Lady Diana) Memorial match organized by the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) was played with total seriousness accorded to any international fixture. Played between MCC and Rest of the World invitational elevens comprising of the world’s top players, this match was watched by a packed Lord’s audience, and millions on television.
Sachin, who was captaining the Rest of the World, scored a masterly 125 to guide his team to victory.
Watch Sachin’s memorable cricketing exploits from 1998!
September 1998- India Versus Pakistan ODI in Canada
For the first 4 ODIs of this Indo-Pak series, Sachin was rested but was called on duty for the final fifth ODI. Coming back from a well-deserved holiday in India, Sachin cracked a cool 77. Unfortunately, India lost the match.
September-October 1998- India Versus Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe
In late September 1998, India toured Zimbabwe. In the three ODI bilateral series. Sachin started with a brilliant, match-winning 127 not out, but failed in the other matches. India won the series 2- 1.
In October 1998, India played a Test match with Zimbabwe, in which Sachin scored 34 and 7. India lost the test.
October 1998- Wills International Cup in Bangladesh
Playing in the ICC- knockout tournament featuring all the top teams, Sachin was in his customary Aussie-demolition mode, scoring a classy 141 and taking 4 for 38 in the quarter-final victory over Australia. He failed against Windies in the semi-final, and India lost!
Watch Sachin’s memorable cricketing exploits from 1998!
November 1998- Coca Cola Cup ODI Triangular (India, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe) in Sharjah
The last ODI assignment for Sachin in this year was the Coca Cola Cup Triangular featuring India, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Even though Sachin failed in 3 out of 5 matches, he scored two match-winning centuries in others. The first, an unbeaten 118 came in the first league match against Zimbabwe. In the second league match against Zimbabwe, Sachin got out cheaply; awkwardly fending a ball by the speedster Henry Olonga.
So, the final against Zimbabwe became a sort of a grudge match. Showing who is the real boss, Sachin simply smashed Olonga and others to all parts of the ground, scoring a breath-taking 124 not out, off mere 92 balls, to help India clinch yet another ODI tournament trophy.
December 1998-India Versus New Zealand in New Zealand
Playing in the Boxing Day Test against New Zealand at Wellington, Sachin Tendulkar scored 47 and 113, once again confirming his all-terrain, all-format batting genius. India lost the test match.
1998 was finally done and dusted! In true sense, it was SRT’s ‘God’ year! Not only did he consistently display an otherworldly batting talent, (and an extra-ordinary bowling talent at times!), but he also single-handedly won so many matches and tournaments against all comers.
Watch Sachin’s memorable cricketing exploits from 1998!
Sachin’s Stats in 1998:
Tests:
| Matches | Innings | Not Out | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Centuries | Fifties | Man of the Match |
| 5 | 9 | 1 | 647 | 80.88 | 75.41 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
One Day Internationals:
| Matches | Innings | Not Out | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Centuries | Fifties | Man of the Match |
| 34 | 33 | 4 | 1894 | 65.31 | 102.16 | 9 | 7 | 12 |
