Sachin Tendulkar played the gentlemen’s game at the highest level for a period of 24 years. He broke several records in the process as he was hailed as one of the best batsmen of all-time. As a result, he amassed over 35,000 international runs coupled with 100 international tons; a significant and untouched feat to date.
However, Tendulkar did the unthinkable as well in 2010 when he became the first cricketer to slam an ODI double hundred during the second and penultimate ODI of the three-match series between India and South Africa in Gwalior.
Batting first, India rode on Tendulkar’s sublime 200 not out and half-centuries from Dinesh Karthik (79) and MS Dhoni (35-ball 68*), India posted a mammoth 401 for 3. In reply, South Africa folded for 248 to lose by 153 runs.
Dale Steyn, thus, recently recalled the epic knock from Tendulkar and shared that umpire Ian Gould refused to give Tendulkar out during the nervous 190s.
Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast with James Anderson, Steyn said, “Tendulkar scored the first double hundred in ODI cricket, and it was against us in Gwalior. And I actually remember – I think I got him out lbw when he was about 190 odd. Ian Gould was the umpire, and he gave him not out.
And I was like, ‘Why, why did you give him not out!? That’s so dead.’ And he was like, ‘Mate, look around – if I gave him out, I won’t make it back to the hotel,” opined the veteran Protea pacer.
