Sourav Ganguly picks the best of Sachin Tendulkar

sachin tendulkar turns 38 on Sunday, his former India teammate Sourav Ganguly rates the Little Master's five best innings in Tests and ODIs. TESTS
- 114 vs Australia, Perth, 1992
It was the first trip to Australia for both of us. It was a brilliant century on a bouncy wicket at the WACA. They had Merv Hughes, Craig McDermott, Mike Whitney. Everyone was ducking and weaving and he was simply hitting it down the ground.
- 146 vs South Africa, Cape Town, 2011
It's his second best century simply because of the conditions and the opposition. The wicket was tough with the ball swinging and seaming. He played the likes of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel with ease. He had toured South Africa three times earlier but it was the first time India had put pressure on South Africa in South Africa.
- 103* vs England, Chennai, 2008
India had to bat for more than a day with a target of nearly 400. Sehwag got the team to a good start but Sachin finished the game. On a Day Five pitch against a very good attack, Sachin played with ease. It was special as India won chasing 387, something that very few teams have done.
- 119* vs England, Manchester, 1990
You always remember your first century and his ton at Old Trafford is on this list for that reason. He batted all day to save the match. He got hit on the head by Angus Fraser and there was Devon Malcolm also. Since his under-15 days, he was special and this knock set the tone for a great career.
- 136 vs Pakistan, Chennai, 1999
India was chasing 271. He had a bad back and had to bat through pain. He got out with less than 20 to get. Even though Sachin ended on the losing side, it was a memorable knock.
ODIs
- 143 vs Australia, Sharjah, 1998
He scored a brilliant ton to take India to the final. It was a good Aussie attack and India kept losing wickets. After a decent start, I got out and he batted through. It was a desert storm that night as he hammered every bowler. That day, Australia didn't have any reply.
- 134 vs Australia, Sharjah, 1998
Two days after the 143, once again against Australia, India got off to a poor start chasing 272. He played as brilliantly as a few days ago. He had a few partnerships with me, Dravid and Azhar. The outfield was slow but it didn't matter to him as he cleared them regularly to clinch the trophy.
- 98 vs Pakistan, Centurion, 2003
World Cup Pakistan had made 273 and had a good attack. Sehwag and Tendulkar got off to a filer and he scored 98 off 70 odd balls and we were never under any pressure. India- Pakistan games are high tension matches and the impact of that knock on the team was immense.
- 110 vs South Africa, Nagpur, 2011 World Cup
Playing at home in the World Cup against a team considered favourites for the tournament was tough. South Africa bowled with a lot of pace and aggression and Sehwag was throwing his bat at everything. It almost felt like a final but Sachin was calm and composed. He never looked in a hurry. It was big occasion and a big knock.
- 200* vs South Africa, Gwalior, 2010
Getting 200 at any level is special. But to get it in an ODI is amazing and it will remain as one of the best knocks you will see in a long time. He hit the ball all round the park. He didn't slog at all and it was the coolness and the composure that stood out. 200 in an ODI against one of the best teams in the world has to be special.