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On This Day: Fourteen years ago, Tendulkar surpassed Gavaskar to become leading centurion
December 10 marks a historic day in Indian cricket and Sachin Tendulkar's career.
On this day, in 2005, Tendulkar registered his 35th Test century and overtook Sunil Gavaskar as the leading centurion in the Test format of the game.
He achieved the feat on Day One of the Ferozeshah Kotla Test between India and Sri Lanka. It was the second Test of Sri Lanka's 2005-06 tour of India. The first Test, which was played in Chennai, had ended in a draw. Prior to the Test series, the two teams played a seven-match One-Day International (ODI) series, which the hosts won 6-1.
Tendulkar, who at that time already had the most number of ODI centuries, made his way to the Test milestone in 177 deliveries and his knock was inclusive of 13 fours and one six. Eight years later, in 2013, when Tendulkar decided to call it quits, he bowed out of the game with 51 Test tons - the most by any cricketer to date.
The Day One of the Delhi Test in 2005 was spoiled by fog and rain. Then Indian captain Rahul Dravid won the toss and elected to bat. At 56 for 2, both the Indian openers - Gautam Gambir and Dravid - had returned to the dugout. Tendulkar went on to record crucial stands with VVS Laxman (77) and Sourav Ganguly (121) for the third and fourth-wicket respectively.
The Little Master reached the milestone with a single off Chaminda Vaas in the 76th over. The Mumbai batsman, who was the only centurion from both the sides in the Delhi Test, eventually was dismissed by Muttiah Muralitharan on the second day. His knock of 109 runs from 196 balls, which lastest for over 300 minutes, proved vital for Indians in the end.
The hosts were all out for 290 in the first innings before they bowled out Sri Lanka for 230. With a healthy lead of 60 runs, India were in a better position who eventually won the match by good 188 runs.
Tendulkar, who made his India debut as a teenager, is easily the greatest batsman to have graced Indian cricket with his presence. With 18,426 runs in ODIs and 15,921 runs in Test matches, Tendulkar is still the highest run-scorer of all time in international cricket.
The legendary cricketer ended his decorated career with a century of international centuries - 51 in Test cricket and 49 in ODI cricket. However, Indian captain Virat Kohli has his eyes on Tendulkar's ODI record. The Delhi batsman, having played 239 ODIs, already has 43 ODI tons under his belt and in no time, he is expected to surpass Tendulkar in this aspect.
