So, it has been quite a number of months since Sachin has got his last hundred, and the elusive hundred has already turned into the most awaited Sachin hundred or for that matter one of the most awaited hundred of all time. This of course implies that there is increased expectation from the fans to get this phenomenal hundred and there is increased focus on Sachin. This may also imply that there is increased pressure on Sachin. Sachin has once again failed to live up to his own standards and knock off another hundred. Getting a hundred has never been such a big deal for Sachin as it is now. This much anticipated and awaited hundredth hundred impasse has epitomized Sachin's inability to stand up to the occasion when it matted most.
There have been quite a lot of instances and occasions when Sachin could not deliver according to his ability when it mattered. One such famous instance of Sachin failing was when he was approaching Brian Lara's World record test runs. Sachin required 131 more runs to go past Lara's world record number of test runs when India went on the tour of Sri Lanka which included a series of three test matches. I am not sure if there has been any test series of three test matches where Sachin could not score more than 131 runs. But on this tour of Sri Lanka in 2007, Sachin failed to score the required 131 runs in three test matches required to go past Brian Lara's world records aggregate of test runs.
Sachin has also failed in crucial games in major tournaments like World cup after performing brilliantly throughout the tournament. One such instance was the super eight game against Australia in 1999 World Cup when Sachin performed well in the league stage, but got out tamely to Glenn McGrath in the crucial super eight fixture against Australia. Similarly, he performed brilliantly throughout 2003 World Cup tournament, but once against got out tamely to a misjudged stroke off Glenn McGrath. Of course, Sachin has again failed in the 2012 world cup final, and would have been a failure in the semi-final against Pakistan in Mohali had Pakistan would have held onto the offered catches. In all these instances, he was in wonderful form throughout the league stage and only failed when it mattered the most.
Sachin also get struck in 90s many times when approaching a hundred during his innings. He often takes more balls when he is between 90 and 100. I have not seen any other great batsmen getting stuck in 100s. Saeed Anwar and Sehwag have often hit sixes to score a hundredth run. I have never seen a Gilchrist or a Brian Lara getting stuck in 90s, which is often the case with Sachin. For all his cricketing abilities in general and batting abilities in particular, Sachin lacks the killer instinct to deliver the killer punch, which is epitomized by the hundredth hundred impasse.
There have been quite a lot of instances and occasions when Sachin could not deliver according to his ability when it mattered. One such famous instance of Sachin failing was when he was approaching Brian Lara's World record test runs. Sachin required 131 more runs to go past Lara's world record number of test runs when India went on the tour of Sri Lanka which included a series of three test matches. I am not sure if there has been any test series of three test matches where Sachin could not score more than 131 runs. But on this tour of Sri Lanka in 2007, Sachin failed to score the required 131 runs in three test matches required to go past Brian Lara's world records aggregate of test runs.
Sachin has also failed in crucial games in major tournaments like World cup after performing brilliantly throughout the tournament. One such instance was the super eight game against Australia in 1999 World Cup when Sachin performed well in the league stage, but got out tamely to Glenn McGrath in the crucial super eight fixture against Australia. Similarly, he performed brilliantly throughout 2003 World Cup tournament, but once against got out tamely to a misjudged stroke off Glenn McGrath. Of course, Sachin has again failed in the 2012 world cup final, and would have been a failure in the semi-final against Pakistan in Mohali had Pakistan would have held onto the offered catches. In all these instances, he was in wonderful form throughout the league stage and only failed when it mattered the most.
Sachin also get struck in 90s many times when approaching a hundred during his innings. He often takes more balls when he is between 90 and 100. I have not seen any other great batsmen getting stuck in 100s. Saeed Anwar and Sehwag have often hit sixes to score a hundredth run. I have never seen a Gilchrist or a Brian Lara getting stuck in 90s, which is often the case with Sachin. For all his cricketing abilities in general and batting abilities in particular, Sachin lacks the killer instinct to deliver the killer punch, which is epitomized by the hundredth hundred impasse.
