Sachin clinically demolished Pakistan's bowling in Mohali but as soon as he got in the 90s there was a buzz in the common room of my hostel, will he get a century this time? 10 bucks say he won't. As it turned out I should have gotten in on that bet because rest assured a panic attack struck Sachin at 99 and he prodded Umar Gul's routine delivery to a very grateful Kamran Akmal.
His 90s jinx has been especially apparent in One Day Internationals this year. His last ODI ton came against the West Indies in January 2007 and in the 26 games since then Sachin has managed 11 fifties and an excellent average of 44.9. Of these 11 fifties, 5 have been 90s including 3 99s(thats also a record: only player to be dismissed for 99 thrice in ODIs). 26 games without a triple figure score is also his third most barren spell. So whats wrong? Has the Master Blaster become the Master Choker or has he been having really bad luck. Its really a combination of the two, his nervousness in the 90s and some terrible decisions by the umpires.
Here is something you might not have noticed: had Sachin converted his every 90 into a century he would have been the first ever cricketer to score one hundred centuries (37+41+22=100) in international cricket!
If these keeps up “Nervous 90s” may be renamed “Tendulkar 90s”. Come on Sachin score a century and shut me up!
Sachin’s ODI 90s in 2007
99 v SA in Ire at Belfast
93 v SA in Ire at Belfast
99 v Eng in Eng at Bristol
94 v Eng in Eng at The Oval
99 v Pak in Ind at Mohali
