India began their second innings in Centurion with a deficit for 484 and were reduced to 277 for 6. Tendulkar rallied, along with Dhoni, and his century changed India's prospects of saving the game from impossible to improbable

India began their second innings in Centurion with a deficit for 484 and were reduced to 277 for 6. Tendulkar rallied, along with Dhoni, and his century changed India's prospects of saving the game from impossible to improbable

A 214 in Bangalore helped secure India's 2-0 win against Australia in 2010. "On his last tour of Australia, Tendulkar was given rapturous ovations by an adoring public each time he went in or out. But the Australians might not have seen the last of him," wrote Sambit Bal. "Fifty Test hundreds are but a formality. A hundred international hundreds are there for the taking. Tendulkar, though, endures not in the pursuit of milestones, but because he can't fall out of love with cricket."

A 214 in Bangalore helped secure India's 2-0 win against Australia in 2010. "On his last tour of Australia, Tendulkar was given rapturous ovations by an adoring public each time he went in or out. But the Australians might not have seen the last of him," wrote Sambit Bal. "Fifty Test hundreds are but a formality. A hundred international hundreds are there for the taking. Tendulkar, though, endures not in the pursuit of milestones, but because he can't fall out of love with cricket."

Sri Lanka declared on 642 for 4 at the SSC and India slipped from 165 for 0 to 241 for 4. Tendulkar scored his 48th century and converted it into a double, giving India the lead. "Yesterday when I got into the dressing room, I had a long ice bath. I was in the ice tub for a while. Then I did some stretches, had an early dinner, and I was in bed by 8.30," he said. "For almost all four days, I have been on the field. It's been demanding on the body, but it's held up pretty well."

Sri Lanka declared on 642 for 4 at the SSC and India slipped from 165 for 0 to 241 for 4. Tendulkar scored his 48th century and converted it into a double, giving India the lead. "Yesterday when I got into the dressing room, I had a long ice bath. I was in the ice tub for a while. Then I did some stretches, had an early dinner, and I was in bed by 8.30," he said. "For almost all four days, I have been on the field. It's been demanding on the body, but it's held up pretty well."

The 106 in Kolkata helped India level the series against South Africa and stay No. 1 in Tests. "Watching him bat can be a demoralising experience for those on the other side. He knows his game so well, and seldom does anything more than is required," Cricinfo reported. "With Tendulkar these days, as opposed to the man who eviscerated Shane Warne in Chennai and Bangalore in 1998, patience is a weapon used to wear down bowlers."

The 106 in Kolkata helped India level the series against South Africa and stay No. 1 in Tests. "Watching him bat can be a demoralising experience for those on the other side. He knows his game so well, and seldom does anything more than is required," Cricinfo reported. "With Tendulkar these days, as opposed to the man who eviscerated Shane Warne in Chennai and Bangalore in 1998, patience is a weapon used to wear down bowlers."

A second-innings 100 from Tendulkar couldn't prevent South Africa from steam-rolling India by an innings and six runs in Nagpur in February 2010

A second-innings 100 from Tendulkar couldn't prevent South Africa from steam-rolling India by an innings and six runs in Nagpur in February 2010

The 143 against Bangladesh in Mirpur in the next Test was a relatively quick one. It took 182 balls and led to India's ten-wicket win. ©Associated Press

The 143 against Bangladesh in Mirpur in the next Test was a relatively quick one. It took 182 balls and led to India's ten-wicket win. ©Associated Press

Sehwag called Bangladesh an ordinary side before the Chittagong Test in 2009 and Tendulkar's unbeaten 105 was needed to prop India up to 243 in the first innings, in a match they eventually won. ©AFP

Sehwag called Bangladesh an ordinary side before the Chittagong Test in 2009 and Tendulkar's unbeaten 105 was needed to prop India up to 243 in the first innings, in a match they eventually won. ©AFP

An unbeaten 100 on a flat pitch at Motera in 2009 helped India draw the Test against Sri Lanka, after the visitors had amassed 760 in their first innings. It ensured Sri Lanka stayed without a Test win in India.

An unbeaten 100 on a flat pitch at Motera in 2009 helped India draw the Test against Sri Lanka, after the visitors had amassed 760 in their first innings. It ensured Sri Lanka stayed without a Test win in India.

A 160 in Hamilton in 2009 was the bedrock of a victory that led to India's series win. "When will Tendulkar retire? Answer: when it suits him. But he'll certainly be around until the 2011 World Cup," wrote David Leggat in the New Zealand Herald. "That gives him two years at least. Eight more centuries give him 50. He's got 43 in ODIs. A double of 50 in each form of the game has a nice ring to it. It is certainly within his capabilities."

A 160 in Hamilton in 2009 was the bedrock of a victory that led to India's series win. "When will Tendulkar retire? Answer: when it suits him. But he'll certainly be around until the 2011 World Cup," wrote David Leggat in the New Zealand Herald. "That gives him two years at least. Eight more centuries give him 50. He's got 43 in ODIs. A double of 50 in each form of the game has a nice ring to it. It is certainly within his capabilities."

Tendulkar's match-winning 103 in a run-chase against England in Chennai, less than a month after Mumbai was attacked in 2008. "He's 35 years old and owns practically every batting record in the game, but you couldn't escape the feeling that this was probably Sachin Tendulkar's finest hour," wrote Dileep Premachandran. "To score the winning runs in a record-shattering chase was special enough, but when that last stroke also brought up your 41st century, it became ineffably so."

Tendulkar's match-winning 103 in a run-chase against England in Chennai, less than a month after Mumbai was attacked in 2008. "He's 35 years old and owns practically every batting record in the game, but you couldn't escape the feeling that this was probably Sachin Tendulkar's finest hour," wrote Dileep Premachandran. "To score the winning runs in a record-shattering chase was special enough, but when that last stroke also brought up your 41st century, it became ineffably so."