SACHIN's CENTURIES

Year 2004

32nd century: Scoring a mammoth unbeaten 241 against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney on January 4, 2004, it was the beginning of a high scoring year for him. This was his highest Test score yet.

33rd century: A controversial decision by the then captain Rahul Dravid to declare the innings, cost Sachin from reaching another double hundred score. India declared their innings with Sachin at a score of 194 with just 6 more runs to reach what would have been his 4th double ton.

34th century: Nine months later he finally got his fourth double ton when he slammed an unbeaten 248 runs against Bangladesh during the first Test in Dhaka. He celebrated his double ton with another milestone as he equalled Sunil Gavaskar's Test record of 34 centuries. It was indeed a proud moment for the two Little Masters, who are great admirers of each other.

Year 2005


35th century: It took Sachin exactly a year to surpass his idol Gavaskar. In 2005, Sachin played six Tests making 444 runs. He missed out on a hundred against Pakistan in Mohali when he was dismissed for 94 runs. And then there was a long wait..

On December 10, 2005 in New Delhi, he got his 35th Test ton against Sri Lanka. He contributed 109 to India's 290 on a tricky Kotla track where Muralitharan was at his wily best. As they say all's well that ends well, India won the match by a big margin of 188 runs.

Year 2007

He started the year on a decent note when he hit a fifty in the third Test against South Africa at Cape Town.

36th century: He next toured to Bangladesh for a two-Test match series. He hit 101 in a rain-hit first Test at Chittagong.

37th century: Sachin hit back-to-back centuries in the series. In the second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka, he raised his 37th ton with an unbeaten knock of 122 runs. Three other Indians made centuries in the same match - Wasim Jaffer, Dinesh Karthik and Rahul Dravid. However, Sachin walked away with the 'Man of the Series'.