OTD 1994: Sachin Tendulkar vs New Zealand in first match as opener

Sachin Tendulkar was still barely four years into his international career and despite a promising start to his Test career, the right-handed batter was yet to establish himself in 50-over cricket. However, on this day 32 years ago, everything turned as India captain Mohammad Azharuddin made a decision which would go on to change the history of Indian cricket forever.

India’s primary opener Navjot Singh Sidhu suffered a stiff neck and was ruled out of the second ODI against New Zealand in Auckland. Chasing a mere 143, the skipper Azharuddin promoted a young Tendulkar to open the innings for the first time alongside Ajay Jadeja.

On that day, the world got to witness a different form of Tendulkar which would become synonymous with him over the rest of his career. Opening the batting, the Mumbai-born batter attacked the bowlers from the get go. In only the second over of the game, bowled by Chris Pringle, Tendulkar hit three boundaries and never looked back. Playing some audacious shots all over the ground, he reached his half century in just 34 balls. 

Despite chasing a modest total, it looked like at one stage that the youngster would go one to get his maiden ODI century. Alas, it wasn’t to be. Following a quickfire 82 off just 49 deliveries, the right-hander was dismissed by Matthew Hart, caught off his own bowling. 

The job was, however, already done as far as India were concerned. When Tendulkar was dismissed, the Men in Blue had 117 on the board and despite losing Vinod Kambli shortly after, captain Azharuddin and Sanjay Manjrekar got them home to a seven-wicket victory. 

Thus started the legend of Tendulkar as a limited-overs opener. In the next game, he opened again and score yet another half-century, hitting 63 off 75 balls. Having settled into his new role, the right-handed batter registered his maiden ODI century against Australia in Colombo in September. The very next month, he scored his first ODI century on Indian soil against New Zealand in Baroda. 

Today, Tendulkar is widely regarded as one of the greatest opening batters the world has ever seen in ODI cricket. Out of his 18,426 ODI runs, 15,310 came whilst he opened the batting at an average of 48.29, compared to just 3,116 runs at 33 when he batted lower down the order. The ‘Master Blaster’ hit 49 centuries in the format, including the world’s first double hundred in ODIs, coming against South Africa in 2010.

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