Cricket is full of surprises, and Sachin Tendulkar once added a peculiar chapter to the sport’s history. During the 2003 ICC World Cup, he played a crucial match with tissues tucked inside his underwear.
In the Super Sixes phase, India faced Sri Lanka at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on March 10. Tendulkar was battling a troublesome stomach and lingering cramps from a clash against Pakistan just nine days earlier.
In his autobiography, “Playing It My Way,” Tendulkar admitted, “On the eve of the match, I had a bad stomach and was feeling dehydrated.” The cause? Excessive isotonic drinks and a teaspoon of salt meant to aid recovery had led to an unwelcome tummy upset.
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Days before facing Sri Lanka, Tendulkar shone with a match-winning 98 against Pakistan at Centurion, earning him the man of the match title. Little did he know that stomach troubles awaited him in Johannesburg.
Tissue Tale of the G.O.A.T. “Sachin Tendulkar”
Undeterred by the discomfort, Tendulkar pressed on, saying, “The situation was so bad that I had to bat with tissues inside my underwear.” The discomfort forced him to retreat to the dressing room during a drinks break. He was battling not only the opposition but also his own physical discomfort that day.
Despite these challenges, Tendulkar showed unparalleled resilience, scoring a patient 97 off 120 balls – the highest in the match. His gritty performance played a pivotal role in India’s resounding 183-run win over Sri Lanka.
Here’s the video of the match in which Sachin Tendulkar scored 97 off 120 balls with tissues in his underwear–
Reflecting on the experience, Tendulkar shared, “Batting with stomach cramps wasn’t a pleasant experience. I pushed myself to the limits of endurance, and in the end, I was glad the effort paid off.”
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The tissue tale stands as a testament to Sachin Tendulkar’s unwavering commitment to the game, highlighting that even cricketing icons face human challenges. It adds a touch of humor to cricket history, reminding us that triumph often arises from unexpected battles – even those fought with tissues in the underwear.
