New Delhi: On this day, 8th November, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid created a monumental partnership that still ranks among the top three highest partnerships in ODI cricket history. Known as the “God of Cricket,” Tendulkar played international cricket for nearly 24 years, setting records that continue to challenge batsmen even a decade after his retirement.
A Record-Breaking Second-Wicket Stand
On 8th November 1999, India faced New Zealand in the second ODI of the series at Hyderabad. After Sourav Ganguly was dismissed cheaply for 4 runs, Tendulkar and Dravid stitched an incredible 331-run partnership for the second wicket, achieved in just 278 balls. At the time, this was the highest partnership in ODI cricket history for any wicket globally.
Tendulkar’s Explosive Innings
Tendulkar scored 186 not out off 150 balls, smashing 20 fours and 3 sixes, setting a new benchmark for India’s highest individual ODI score at the time, surpassing Ganguly’s 183. Dravid contributed 153 runs off 153 balls, with 15 fours and 2 sixes. The New Zealand bowling attack struggled badly, with Chris Drum conceding 85 runs in 9 overs without taking a wicket. India scored 90 runs in the final six overs alone.
India Sets Team Record
India posted 376 runs for 2 wickets in 50 overs, which was the country’s highest ODI total at the time. New Zealand was bowled out for 202 in 33.1 overs, handing India a 174-run victory, the largest winning margin in Indian ODI history at that point.
16 Years Before the Record Was Broken
The Tendulkar-Dravid record stood for 16 years before being surpassed in 2015 by West Indies pair Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels, who put together 372 runs for the second wicket against Zimbabwe. Despite this, the iconic Tendulkar-Dravid partnership remains among the top three in ODI cricket history.
Top 3 ODI Partnerships for Any Wicket:
- 372 runs: Chris Gayle – Marlon Samuels (West Indies vs Zimbabwe, 2015)
- 365 runs: Shai Hope – John Campbell (West Indies vs Ireland, 2019)
- 331 runs: Sachin Tendulkar – Rahul Dravid (India vs New Zealand, 1999)
Other notable partnerships include Ganguly-Dravid’s 318 runs (1999 vs Sri Lanka) and Imam-ul-Haq – Fakhar Zaman’s 304 runs (2018 vs Zimbabwe).
This historic Tendulkar-Dravid partnership remains a shining example of resilience, skill, and teamwork, earning them an unforgettable place in cricketing history.
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