Why Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest batsman in World Cup history

[Kool_SRG]

The question is, how did Tendulkar fare when the occasion became grand, and the pressure increased?

For over three decades, Sachin Tendulkar’s career has been dissected by the cricketing world. Armchair experts have analyzed his place in history, fans have had their say, and former teammates and players have their opinions to make as well.

Even after 7 years into his retired life, Tendulkar continues to remain in the discussion. And, that is due to the gargantuan numbers that he generated throughout his unprecedented career. Tendulkar holds virtually every single batting record in ODI cricket, including that for the most runs (18426), most hundreds (49), and the most fifties (96), among many others.

 

Now the question is, how did Tendulkar fare when the occasion became grand, and the pressure increased?

Is Tendulkar the greatest batsman in World Cup cricket too?

Sachin Tendulkar’s glittering World Cup numbers

Sachin Tendulkar has a stunning overall record in World Cup cricket. Before proceeding further, let us look at the Top 5 run-scorers in World Cup cricket in the table below.

 

As we can see, Tendulkar is the only batsman to have scored over 2000 World Cup runs, and also holds the record for the most number of hundreds (6) and fifties (15) in World Cups. In fact, as far as fifty-plus scores are concerned, the second man on the list (Kumar Sangakkara) barely has a little more than half the 50 plus scores that Tendulkar has.

Yes, it may be argued that AB de Villiers has a better average than Tendulkar, but the fact that Tendulkar managed to have such a high average playing double the amount of innings that De Villiers did tilts the scale in his favor.

The 1996 and the 2003 World Cups- Tendulkar’s sole effort

There has not been any batsman who has been under as much pressure and scrutiny in the history of the game like Tendulkar has been. Over a period of a career that spanned a quarter of a century, Tendulkar was the divinity of the Indian batting line up and carried the burden of his nation on his shoulders.

And, it would not be an exaggeration to say that India owe their semi-final finish in the 1996 World Cup largely to Tendulkar. The master was in stunning form throughout the tournament and scored 523 runs at an average of 87.17.

Tendulkar also scored 2 hundreds and 3 fifties in the 7 innings that he played in the tournament and was in the form of his life. But then, even though Tendulkar scored 65 in the semi-final against Sri Lanka, the rest of the batsmen did not offer any resistance on that fateful day and India bowed out of the tournament.

In the 2003 World Cup, Tendulkar was again at the forefront. The master aggregated 673 runs throughout the tournament, a tally that has not been beaten till today. His knock of 98 against arch-rivals Pakistan in that tournament is considered as one of the greatest played by a batsman in World Cup history. But even then, the Aussies steamrolled India in the summit clash.

The 2011 World Cup- Tendulkar’s crowning moment

In the year 2011, Tendulkar defied Father Time and appeared in his 6th World Cup, a record that has been matched only by Javed Miandad. And, in his final appearance too, Tendulkar was at his riveting best. He scored hundreds against England and South Africa and his crucial 85 against Pakistan allowed India to make the final of the multi-nation tournament. He finished the tournament as the second-highest run-scorer in the competition aggregating 482 runs.

And, on the night of 2nd April 2011, Tendulkar finally fulfilled his long-cherished dream of lifting the World Cup trophy.

Why Tendulkar outshines all the others?

Sachin Tendulkar is the only batsman in history to have aggregated over 450 runs in three separate World Cup events. In fact, even if we take his aggregates only in 1996,2003, and 2011 World Cups alone, he will still stand second in the list of batsmen with most runs. From the age of 19 when he appeared in his first World Cup till the age of 38 when he played his last, Tendulkar morphed and changed with time.

His ability to adapt and change with time makes him the greatest batsman in World Cup history. He leads his nearest competitor in terms of runs scored by 535 runs, and none of the current batsmen are even within touching distance of his aggregate in World Cups.

With such impressive numbers across six World Cups, and his ability to raise his game when the stage became grander, Tendulkar can rightfully stake claim to be the greatest batsman in World Cup history.

Yes, people will talk about the dominance of Vivian Richards, they will talk about the flamboyance of Adam Gilchrist or the majesty of Ricky Ponting. But then, if you had to get a complete package, then it has to be Tendulkar.

And, the numbers that he generated stand testimony to the same.

[Dyud]

brahmi whistling and claps gif

[Kool_SRG]

2 minutes ago, Dyud said:

brahmi whistling and claps gif

[r2d2]

Sachin was c&b McGrath for 4 runs... in the  WC final .. 2003.. somehow.. just can’t forgive him .. although it was an abject surrender by the entire team..🤬

[JANASENA]

Those are the days when there is no power play. tough days facing bowlers like wasim, waqar, shoaib, warne, mcgrath etc.... a lot of best bowlers around the world. 

[Kool_SRG]

15 minutes ago, r2d2 said:

Sachin was c&b McGrath for 4 runs... in the  WC final .. 2003.. somehow.. just can’t forgive him .. although it was an abject surrender by the entire team..🤬

Off course with the performance he gave in the matches before in that WC much was expected from him as usual but the weight of 360 target didn't help...

Harsha Bhogle told a story about this how Sachin's thinking was in team meeting during Innings break. How we are going get 360 in 300 balls.

Sachin mentioned if we can get one four at least per over 50 x 4 = 200 runs, so from remaining 250 balls need to get 160 runs..

[Jobsforeveryone]

21 minutes ago, r2d2 said:

Sachin was c&b McGrath for 4 runs... in the  WC final .. 2003.. somehow.. just can’t forgive him .. although it was an abject surrender by the entire team..🤬

It was not just Sachin. Ricky ponting and Damien Martin crushed Indian bowling attack and that’s when India lost the game. Those were the days people used to mentally lose the game if the opponent already scored 350+ runs. Sachin tried to start hitting from the first over itself and tried to pull shot a ball from Mc Grath ultimately giving him the catch to get OUT. Remember the match against Pakistan where he scored 98 off 75 balls. I was in Intermediate In Vijayawada those days and we followed the commentary on Radios and then for the final match they screened it in our hostel mess.

[Kool_SRG]

4 minutes ago, Jobsforeveryone said:

It was not just Sachin. Ricky ponting and Damien Martin crushed Indian bowling attack and that’s when India lost the game. Those were the days people used to mentally lose the game if the opponent already scored 350+ runs. Sachin tried to start hitting from the first over itself and tried to pull shot a ball from Mc Grath ultimately giving him the catch to get OUT. Remember the match against Pakistan where he scored 98 off 75 balls. I was in Intermediate In Vijayawada those days and we followed the commentary on Radios and then for the final match they screened it in our hostel mess.

Yup not a easy task to chase 300+  in those days.. And that too 360 is kind of beyond reach.  Now a days its bit ok since advent of T20 cricket.

Opted to bowl and our team especially tried to show unnecessary aggressiveness against aussies  and lost it over there.

[r2d2]

When the going gets tough the tough get going...😜

[Sarvapindi]

33 minutes ago, r2d2 said:

Sachin was c&b McGrath for 4 runs... in the  WC final .. 2003.. somehow.. just can’t forgive him .. although it was an abject surrender by the entire team..🤬

Icc Final’s ..bad luck

[r2d2]

I have nothing against Sachin.. in fact loved the back to back centuries in Sharjah against the Aussies.. and a  host of other spectacular innings.. 

BUT that one failure in the WC final still sticks out like a sore thumb...

[manadonga]

40 minutes ago, r2d2 said:

Sachin was c&b McGrath for 4 runs... in the  WC final .. 2003.. somehow.. just can’t forgive him .. although it was an abject surrender by the entire team..🤬

We cant blame sachin for that 

but 2011 world cup gelichaka kuda team ni vadalakunda jiddula indian cricket team ni nasanam chesadu 

ofcourse kapil dev and sunil gavasker kuda records kosam 3 to 4 yrs indian cricket ni nasanam chesaru retire avvakunda 

[reality]

1 hour ago, r2d2 said:

Sachin was c&b McGrath for 4 runs... in the  WC final .. 2003.. somehow.. just can’t forgive him .. although it was an abject surrender by the entire team..🤬

Anxiety tho vodipoyaru.... lekapothe best Indian ODI team of all time, adhi.

[Dyud]

1 hour ago, r2d2 said:

Sachin was c&b McGrath for 4 runs... in the  WC final .. 2003.. somehow.. just can’t forgive him .. although it was an abject surrender by the entire team..🤬

aa time lo 350+ score chasing was almost impossible.. 

they wanted to get atleast 1 boundary per over.. aa strategy valle aa shot kottadu anta..

ofcourse sachin wkt pothe rest all peka meda la kooladam common ee kada.. sachin's wicket had that strength

[keviinusa]

1 hour ago, r2d2 said:

Sachin was c&b McGrath for 4 runs... in the  WC final .. 2003.. somehow.. just can’t forgive him .. although it was an abject surrender by the entire team..🤬

aa world cup lo just adoka match tappa migitha matches mast enjoy chesina.

netherlands toh chethaga adaru group matches lo inka gurthuku vundi eenadu lo baga dobbadu padi lechina bharat ani edo

tarvata australia match lo odipoyaru

groups lo australia and final lo australia toh tappa migitha times to total domination manollatoh ne vunde,

aa kenya toh dissapointment aithadi ani anukunde coz aa season lo kenyans kummesaru pedda pedda teams ki poyincharu but dada made a ton against them saving our ass.

aa nail biting situations ippudu ekkadivi ley, post 2011 tarvata cricket meeda anta interest raatle.