Sachin dedicates the double hundred to the people of India

Mathew Hayden once said: I have seen God. He bats at number four for India. It is hoped that Hayden watched this classical and epical innings by Sachin Tendulkar who created history by slamming the first double hundred in a one day international
Sandeep Kumar Delhi

"I don't know how to react to this. I would like to dedicate this to the people of India who have always stood behind me for these 20 years amid the ups and downs." What else can one expect more from perhaps the most humble legend in contemporary times, and perhaps for many years to come. A single towards the backward point region in the last over of the innings at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium became history. The entire stadium roared and saluted the master for the unbelievable knock. And with the stadium, millions in India and abroad, including Sachin's friend, another great, Shane Warne, who tweeted when the genius was on 190: Do it Sachin. Only you can do it.

Batting first, the little maestro played a classically nuanced innings when he was king of all that he surveyed, like a majestic tiger in the jungle. He was wristy, with a soft handle, delicate, gliding, driving and flicking and glancing the ball, not really going for too many power shots, except for three huge sixes; and yet, this subtle and protracted innings had 25 fours. One four stood out: he literally danced on his toes on this half-volley on the off stump, and scooped/flicked/glanced/glided it - where - to the leg side. Amazing and perhaps a first-time innovation  in two decades.

He made the harried South African bowlers chase leather all around the ground, as he stood there like a rock and a ballet dancer at once, in synthesis, literally moving his feet and stroking the ball with amazing love and finesse. Indeed, from the very first ball it was clear that Sachin was playing a different tune in his head, almost similar to that historic innings at Sharjah that the passion for this game is still simmering like fire inside him. After more than two amazing and extraordinary decades in the game, he reached this milestone in the last over after some tense moments as Dhoni was in full flow and holding strike. He hit his double century in just 147 balls hammering 25 fours and three towering sixes. In the process, he also surpassed the highest one day score of 194 made by Saeed Anwar and his own of 186 not out. 

Tendulkar started his chanceless innings with an assured quietness and solidity, not unusually aggressive, but stunningly solitary and confident in his quest. His solitaire 37-ball 50 followed his century in 90 balls. After losing Virender Sehwag (9) early in the innings, Tendulkar put on a 150-run partnership with Dinesh Karthik (79 off 85) who slammed his fourth ODI 50 and first against South Africa. India slammed 401 runs for 3 in 50 overs.  Chasing 402, South African chase ended on 248 in the 43rd over to hand over the series to India by 153 runs.

Hardnews congratulates the greatness of Sachin Tendulkar and shares the joy of watching an epical innings with millions of his fans all over India and the world. That an unpretentious and modest Sachin is the god of cricket is no doubt. That other greats also consider him one is also an inevitable truth. Witness below the amazing and frank testimonies on the legend called Sachin Tendulkar by his contemporaries and admirers, floating on the net for some years now:

"I have seen God, he bats at number 4 for India."
Mathew Hayden