When A No-Look Throw By Sachin Tendulkar Sent Hyderabad Crowd In A Frenzy [WATCH]

Under the heap of numerous batting records that he had registered under his name over an international career which spanned for more than two decades, the legendary Sachin Tendulkar is not talked much about the street-smart bowler and fielder that he was for India. In fact, he was one of the very few bowlers who could bowl off-spin, leg-spin, or the swinging medium-pace deliveries with amazing control in accordance with the batter’s style of play or match situation.

Him taking the onus of bowling the final over of the 1993 Hero Cup semi-final against South Africa, and conceding mere three runs while defending six continues to remain fan-favourite.

However, many of us won’t be aware of his crucial contribution with the ball during India’s famous Eden Gardens Test against Australia in 2001. While the match is remembered for legendary batters VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid‘s mammoth partnership worth 376 runs while following-on, Tendulkar getting rid of the likes of Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne was quite crucial a contribution which had led to India’s 171-run victory.

During the Multan Test of India’s tour of Pakistan 2004, Tendulkar went to to challenge Pakistani batter Moin Khan as he believed he had a knack of dismissing the wicket-keeper batter. Claiming the same on Day 3 in his vicinity while talking to one of his teammates, Tendulkar’s challenge was accepted by an aggressive Khan. As it would turn out, he would dismiss him on the last delivery of the day by outfoxing him with a googly which dismantled his stumps.

Another instance of his street-smartness was when he gave a master class to Dravid on how to spot New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns bowling inswing or outswing from the non-strikers’s end. Read more on the incident by clicking here.

When A No-Look Throw By Sachin Tendulkar Sent Hyderabad Crowd In A Frenzy

Similarly, during the fifth ODI against Australia at Hyderabad in 2009, Tendulkar’s simple yet deceiving act while fielding was enough to send the jam-packed crowd in a frenzy.

During the sixth over of the Australian innings being bowled by Praveen Kumar, a shot from opening batter Shane Watson was hit straight to Tendulkar standing at short cover. Soon after collecting the ball cleanly in his hands, he fired in an impulsive throw at the non-striker’s end while looking at the batting end.

A vigilant Shaun Marsh at the other end made sure to drag his bat inside the crease in time as the throw missed the stumps. However, this ‘cool’, nonchalant act by the Master was absolutely loved by his ever-loving fans, who roared in unison for some good four-five seconds.

Legendary Sunil Gavaskar in the commentary box aptly described the same by stating that whatever this man (Tendulkar) does is absolutely loved by the crowd.

Sachin Tendulkar’s Unforgettable One-Man Show

This was the very match in which Tendulkar had single-handedly taken the Australian bowlers to the cleaners. Chasing a mammoth 351-run target, Tendulkar opened the batting and only returned back in the 48th over. He was the lone headache for the Australians throughout the innings, hitting them for 19 fours and 4 sixes to score a splendid 175 (141).

His 137-run partnership for the fifth wicket alongside Suresh Raina (59) had in it for India to register a famous ODI victory for the ages. That said, fate had other plans. Requiring 19 runs in three overs, Tendulkar got out to pacer Clint McKay and India went on to agonizingly lose the match by 3 runs as a result.

Tendulkar’s stellar innings went in vain, but he was deservedly awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ for what will be remembered as one of his best ODI knocks of all time.