Sachin Tendulkar playing against Sri Lanka in an ODI
Playing against Sri Lanka, Tendulkar scored his 4th ODI century and helped India win the match comfortably. His brilliant knock made the chase look easy as India won by 8 wickets and secured their place in the final. At just 22 years old, Sachin was already becoming the backbone of Indian cricket. These innings showed his growing confidence and skill, proving once again why he was called the Master Blaster. A truly memorable day in Indian cricket history.
Being a young lad on the side, Sachin Tendulkar was always a special talent, but on April 9, 1995, he gave another reminder of his brilliance with the bat during the Pepsi Asia Cup match against Sri Lanka at Sharjah. It was the 5th game of the tournament, and India needed a win to confirm their place in the final. Batting second, they chased down the target of 203 with ease, winning the match by 8 wickets with more than 16 overs to spare, thanks to a masterclass from the “Little Master”.
Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat first. However, they couldn’t build any significant partnerships. The Indian bowlers were spot on from the start, with pace duo Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad putting pressure early on. Asanka Gurusinha fell for 15, while Sanath Jayasuriya tried to push the tempo with 31 off 39 but was dismissed by Anil Kumble.
Sri Lanka’s top and middle-order kept falling at regular intervals. Mahanama (11), Aravinda de Silva (21), and captain Arjuna Ranatunga (5) couldn’t convert their starts, and they soon found themselves five down for 105. Prasad played a key role, taking 3 wickets, including de Silva and Mahanama. Srinath also bagged two, and India’s bowling unit maintained tight lines throughout.
Hashan Tillakaratne was the only batter who provided resistance for the Lankans. He scored a patient 48 from 78 balls, guiding the lower order. Kumar Dharmasena supported him with 30, but the Indian fielders executed two crucial run-outs, including that of Dharmasena. Sri Lanka eventually finished on 202/9 in their 50 overs. Extras played a part too, contributing 29 runs to their total. India’s bowlers were economical, with Ashish Kapoor being the most frugal, giving away just 30 runs in his 10 overs. Kumble and Prabhakar took one wicket each, while Srinath and Prasad combined for five. India was left chasing a moderate target of 203.
The Indian response was calm and composed, led by an opening partnership between Manoj Prabhakar and Sachin Tendulkar. They added 161 runs for the first wicket, laying the perfect platform. Prabhakar anchored the innings with a solid 60 off 79 balls, hitting 7 boundaries. His steady knock allowed Sachin to play with freedom and allowed him to do what he does well. Tendulkar dazzled the Sharjah crowd with an unbeaten 112 from 107 deliveries, featuring 15 boundaries and a six. He brought up his fourth ODI hundred, a defining knock filled with glorious drives and excellent placement. He showed maturity beyond his age, pacing the chase beautifully and also became the player to score the fastest 3000 ODI Runs in the format.
After Prabhakar fell at 161 and Sidhu was dismissed shortly after, Tendulkar found support in Srinath, who hit a quick 14* to wrap up the chase in the 34th over. India ended on 206/2 in just 33.1 overs, making a strong statement in the tournament. Sanath Jayasuriya picked up both Indian wickets, finishing with 2/42 from his 10 overs. However, the rest of the Sri Lankan bowling attack struggled. Chaminda Vaas, the lead pacer, went wicketless and conceded 67 runs in 9 overs. None of the other bowlers could contain the Indian batters either, as Tendulkar took them apart with elegant strokes.
The match was an all-round performance by India, a disciplined bowling, sharp fielding, and a flawless run chase. But above all, it belonged to Sachin Tendulkar, who was rightly named Player of the Match for his unbeaten century. This knock helped India secure a spot in the final of the Asia Cup and added another glorious chapter to the early years of Tendulkar’s ODI career. In a game where India needed their big players to step up, the youngster stole the show. That April day in 1995 became yet another reminder of why Tendulkar was already being hailed as the future of Indian cricket.