Applauses all around topped by a pat on the back; Image Source: India Today

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On 4th March 2012, the crowd at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium was treated to one final Tendulkar masterclass. The innings had been uncharacteristic of him. He had been more careful than he usually was and never took any real risks, perhaps that gravity of the milestone had gotten to him.

His last hundred had come a year ago. For 12 months, Tendulkar chased that elusive century with all his might but it wasn't to be. Now, immortality beckoned the great man. With a deft touch, he tucked the ball to his on-side and brought up another 100. His last century was also his hundredth, a milestone previously only found in the land of the imagined. 

However, in the August of 1990, Tendulkar wasn't the revered cricketer he is today. The God of Cricket metaphorically and literally, back then was just another 17-year-old boy from Bandra looking to make a career out of playing cricket. 

> Sachin's story began in a land far away in England. A boy from Bombay who dreamed of making it big in life was fighting it out against the English to keep his team alive.

On a perfect morning for cricket at Old Trafford in Manchester, India and England wrestled it out for a victory. England seemed closer to a victory than India, who would've just been happy with salvaging a draw.

Throughout the match, the Indians had been on the backfoot consistently throughout. After having batted for half an hour on the last day, the English set up an indomitable target of 408 runs. The English though, were gunning for a victory.

They came out all guns blazing. Siddhu went early and Shastri followed him back after making just 32 runs. Vengsarkar misread the line of the ball and was clean bowled while the first innings' heroes, Azharuddin and Manjrekar played right into the English's hands (literally).

With two sessions to go and India languishing at 127/5, a victory for the home side seemed imminent. Out walked Tendulkar and joined Kapil Dev in a bid to save the game. A wild heave saw Kapil Dev's stumps getting shattered and with every wicket, the chances of salvaging the game diminished.

At 183/6, Manoj Prabhakar and Sachin Tendulkar came together to save the game for India. No other wicket fell as they made it to the 90-over mark and the match was declared to be a draw. A young Tendulkar walked back to a pat on the back by Prabhakar and applause from the crowd, the Englishmen whom he had just schooled and the Indian team.

In retrospect, this was an embryonic Tendulkar in action- the seeds of future success were not yet ripe, however, glimpses of the brilliance beneath were visible a-plenty. His first boundary came courtesy of a wild swipe on the off-side; he'd go on to hit 17 more.

Over the years, he gave many moments for fans to hold dear. There came a time when all TVs would be switched off as soon as Tendulkar got out. More than just being a player, he was a ray of hope for billions of people. Of the countless magical innings he played, Sachin holds on to this one more closely than any other.

With India in dire trouble against the English, a 17-year-old Sachin Tendulkar stepped out on the pitch and wove his magic for the first time, an indication of good times to come.