Four
centuries in his five matches at the M A Chidambaram Stadium,
Chepauk! Thats the most number of Test hundreds by any batsman
at this stadium.
When you consider that Sachin Tendulkar now averages 109.16
runs per innings at Chepauk, there is definitely the temptation
to look at this ground as home turf of the greatest batsman in the
game today.
The question on everybody's mind is whether he will score his first
One-Day ton at the third match in the LG Series to be held at Chepauk
on 25th January.
Ton 1 - 1993 India vs England - 165 (296
balls, 24x4, 1x6) India won
After
Sidhu's century, Sachin and Pravin Amre put on 118
runs for the fifth wicket (the highest fifth-wicket partnership
at Chepauk till the Sachin-Dravid partnership of 169 runs
against Australia in 2001). This was Sachin's second Test century
against England.
Ton 2 - 1998 India vs Australia - 155 (191
balls, 14x4, 4x6) India won
Sachin's unbeaten 155 (his 15th Test century) helped India set
Australia a target of 348 in the second innings. Kumble's four
wickets then helped India to an easy win.
Ton 3 - 1999 India vs Pakistan - 136 ( 273
balls, 18x4) Pakistan won
His
own bitterness at the team losing by 12 runs seemed to overshadow
the magnificent fight-back that he orchestrated from the shambles.
Sachin hoped to finish the game for India, but the strain he developed
in his back and groin prevented him from completing his follow-through
at each stroke. When he was dismissed, with India needing 17 more
runs to win, Pakistan knew the battle was won.
Ton 4 - 2001 India vs Australia - 126 (230
balls, 15x4, 2x6) India won
On the third day of the final Test match against Australia, at
the M A Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, when Sachin heaved Colin
Miller's delivery for a mighty six, he reached another landmark
- his 25th Test hundred. Playing with prudence in the initial stages
of his innings, Sachin accelerated towards the latter half of his
century, punishing Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne with
severity.
M A
CHIDAMBARAM STADIUM
Credited with being the luckiest ground for the Indian
Cricket team, the M A Chidambaram Stadium, located
at Chepauk, Chennai, is also the venue which boasts
the most number of decisive results among Indian grounds.
The first Test played at this ground was the India vs
England Test of 1933-34. The Stadium has had several
'firsts' and has been the arena for several record-makers
and record-breakers. The first Ranji Trophy match
was played here. India won its first Test match at Chepauk
(1951-52). Sunil Gavaskar reached his 30th Test
hundred and Sachin Tendulkar reached his 25th Test hundred
here. The India-Australia Test of 1986-87 was only the
second Tied-test in the history of the game. This Stadium,
with a capacity of 50,000 plus, also has Floodlights
for Day and Night matches. The Stadium has achieved
yet another first by being the first in the country
to install a giant TV screen cum scoreboard. The India-England
match, the third in the LG Series to be played on January
25th will be the first time this giant screen will be
used in an international match.
Four
centuries in his five matches at the M A Chidambaram Stadium,
Chepauk! Thats the most number of Test hundreds by any batsman
at this stadium.
After
Sidhu's century, Sachin and Pravin Amre put on 118
runs for the fifth wicket (the highest fifth-wicket partnership
at Chepauk till the Sachin-Dravid partnership of 169 runs
against Australia in 2001). This was Sachin's second Test century
against England.
His
own bitterness at the team losing by 12 runs seemed to overshadow
the magnificent fight-back that he orchestrated from the shambles.
Sachin hoped to finish the game for India, but the strain he developed
in his back and groin prevented him from completing his follow-through
at each stroke. When he was dismissed, with India needing 17 more
runs to win, Pakistan knew the battle was won.
