Sachin Tendulkar enthralls with innings to remember in 200th Test

Resuming on 38, the most prolific run-scorer in international cricket, Sachin Tendulkar had looked in fine form when he played a straight drive off paceman Tino Best to bring up his 68th fifty on the anniversary of his debut test against Pakistan in 1989. (IE Photo: Ravi Kanojia)

The 40-year-old Sachin Tendulkar drove to the boundary to glide past 50 and then raised his bat to an ecstatic crowd and global TV audience in the millions. (IE Photo: Ravi Kanojia)

He played most of his signature strokes during the 118-ball stay at the crease, which was studded with 12 crisp boundaries, leaving former India team mate Aakash Chopra begging for more. (IE Photo: Ravi Kanojia)

It was a sudden end to what had been building as a fairytale innings. Sachin Tendulkar smashed 12 fours and faced 118 balls, playing both spin and pace bowlers with ease and executing several shots that he has been famous for - the straight drive, cover drive and the paddle-sweep. (IE Photo: Ravi Kanojia)

Before his dismissal, chants of "Sachin, Sachin" reverberated around a stadium packed to its 32,000 capacity every time Tendulkar took his stance at the batting crease in the second morning session of his 200th test match. (IE Photo: Ravi Kanojia)

"Thank you for the memories Sachin. We will miss you," an emotional Sunil Gavaskar, former India captain and Sachin Tendulkar's childhood hero, said from the commentary box as the batsman marched towards the changing rooms for possibly the last time. (IE Photo: Ravi Kanojia)

The packed Wankhede Stadium was jolted from euphoria to deathly silence within a second as West Indies captain Darren Sammy pouched a sharp slip catch off part-time spinner Narsingh Deonarine to bring an end to Sachin Tendulkar's first innings knock. (IE Photo: Ravi Kanojia)

The magician called Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar today ensured that it was a farewell that each and every Indian will remember for posterity as the country's greatest sporting icon walked into the sunset with a knock which exhibited just why he is the greatest of this era.

In his 200th and last Test match, Sachin Tendulkar showed how a genius can keep overwhelming emotions under control as he scored a majestic 74 in what will probably be his last international innings. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

The numbers mattered for the uninitiated but for those who loved the man for the last 24 years, each and every stroke that came out from that blade was a celebration. His 74 came off 118 balls with 12 boundaries. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

A deft late cut off Shane Shillingford, straight drive past Tino Best, a shot off his hips off Shanon Gabriel, it was India's most loved hero's way of saying 'Thank You' as he completed 24 years in international cricket today. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

The cobwebs were off his mind, 40,000 odd at the Wankhede and the millions in every nook and corner of India may have felt the pressure, but the man himself had a sage like presence at the crease. Nothing mattered to him apart from the bowler and the release of his delivery. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

Today's innings was a vintage Tendulkar, who made everyone sit on a 'Time Machine' as he rolled back those years. What no bowler has done successfully in 24 years, Tino Best was trying to do -- sledge Tendulkar. But predictably, it didn't have an effect. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

Best tried to intimidate Tendulkar with short-pitched deliveries. It hardly bothered him. He appealed fervently for a caught behind but the umpire negated it. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)