Sachin Tendulkar reacts after scoring his 100th international century. (AFP/Getty Images)Sachin Tendulkar scored his 49th one-day century and the 100th ton of his illustrious international career against Bangladesh at Dhaka in the fourth match of the Asia Cup today.
Tendulkar, who is now in the 23rd year of his international career had been searching for this landmark century since 12 March 2011.
India lost the wicket of Gautam Gambhir in the sixth over of the match when Shafiul Islam clean bowled the left-handed opening batsman; but Tendulkar and Virat Kohli (66) then added 148 runs for the second wicket.
Tendulkar scored his half-century in 63 balls with a lofted drive over extra cover off Shakib Al Hasan; this was also his first 50 since the 85 he scored against Pakistan in the semi-finals of the 2011 World Cup. Tendulkar, who was the first batsman to score a double century in ODIs, reached the three-figure mark when he took a single from a Shakib Al Hasan delivery in the 44th over of India's innings. He took 138 deliveries to score his century, which is one of his slowest in ODIs, but the occasion was so historic that it
shouldn't take the sheen off the landmark.
He celebrated the landmark by glancing at the sky and pointing to the Indian flag on his helmet before he was embraced by Suresh Raina, who was with him in the middle at the team. The Bangladesh players also ran up to congratulate Tendulkar on his achievement even as the crowd went into raptures.
Tendulkar scored 114 from 147 balls before he was caught behind off Mashrafe Mortaza's bowling in the 47th over of India's innings which ended at 289-5 in their allotted 50 overs.
Talking to Neo Cricket after India's innings, Tendulkar said it has been a tough phase for him even though he started the season batting reasonably well. Tendulkar said the hype around his 100th international century was started by the media and he was asked about it wherever he went - be it restaurants, hotels or ordered room service. He conceded the moment hadn't sunk in yet, and added: "Dreams do come true. I had to wait for one for 22 years (to win the World Cup)."
India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was amongst the first to wish Tendulkar and said he has made the country proud. "Tendulkar's long career has been a triumph of class, character and courage. I wish him many more innings and feats to continue inspiring the youth," Singh said in a press release.
Tendulkar was also congratulated by ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said he is a marvel to cricket lovers around the world, adding he is a true role model. "On behalf of every cricket fan around the globe I congratulate Sachin on becoming the first person to score 100 centuries for his country. This is indeed a magnificent feat and not likely to be easily emulated," Lorgat was quoted as saying in an ICC release.
Lorgat also said: "Like millions of others I have personally followed his career ever since he first played for India as a gifted 16-year-old and now, more than two decades later, his passion and personal records, which include more than 33,000 runs at international level, is a modern day wonder."
Tendulkar scored his first international century - 119* - against England at Old Trafford in August 1990; while his first ODI century (110) came against Australia at Colombo on 9 September 1994.
He scored the 99th century of his career against South Africa at Nagpur during the 2011 World Cup, but had failed to get to the three-figure mark in his last 33 innings; which included away Test series in England and Australia; a home Test series against West Indies and the Commonwealth Bank tri-series in Australia.
Tendulkar scored 12 centuries in 1998 - the most he has in a year in his career. He has scored eight centuries in three different years (1996, 1999 and 2010).
Tendulkar, who is the most capped player in Tests and ODIs, holds an array of batting records including for the most runs and centuries scored in those two formats of the game.
In his 188 Tests, Tendulkar has scored 15470 runs, including 51 centuries; and in his 462 ODIs, the batting maestro has scored 18,374 runs, including 49 centuries.
Tendulkar has scored 1000 or more runs in a calendar six times - 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2010. He has also scored 1,000 or more ODI runs in a calendar year seven times - 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2007.
