SACHIN USED to be often criticised for not being able to contribute when the team needed him most. All his critics should just look at the circumstances in which Sachin has made runs in the ongoing Border-Gavasker series.

It was his knock of 49 runs that saved team India from falling in the Mohali Test. It’s right that Sachin had a terrible tour in Sri Lanka and had not been getting the hundreds that he would have liked to but his batting form has been right at the top. Every time he has come out to bat at the crease, you must have heard that all familiar sweet noise of the middle of the bat meeting the ball.

Gambhir and Laxman might have got double hundreds at Delhi, but Sachin has been consistent through out the series having an average of above 50 even before going into the last Test.

He had his share of luck in getting the 40th ton, but who doesn’t. The little master deserved it. The dropped chances by Johnson and Lee helped Sachin to reach the three figure mark and the expression on his face said it all. It was more an expression of relief than joy.

For the first time in this series India had gone into a Test match on the back foot. Australia’s brilliant batting reply in the Test match in Delhi had done wonders to their confidence and they had a sniff at winning the Test even though India had a staggering total of 600-plus in the first innings.

But with all the important announcements around, Indian team could well have got distracted. Kumble had just retired, Ganguly was going into his last Test, Laxman’s hundredth Test match, Harbhajan had come off an injury and Dravid’s poor form in the series had been a cause of concern. And even after the dismal start, India managed a 300-plus score on the first day of the Test match, thanks to Sachin’s brilliant knock.

It might not be one of the most fiery knocks but it was one that would give a lot of relief to him and to the entire team, for India cannot afford to lose this Test in order to win the Border-Gavaskar trophy.