OTD: Sachin Tendulkar's historic 'Desert Storm' knock stuns Australia in Sharjah

On this day, Sachin Tendulkar smashed 143 runs off 131 balls against Australia in Sharjah. The knock is popularly known as the 'Desert Storm' knock, as it came after Desert Storm interrupted the match before India’s innings. Tendulkar’s exceptional knock on April 22 in 1998, helped India reach the final of the tri-series, which also featured New Zealand.

It was the sixth and final match of the tri-series between India, New Zealand, and Australia. Having already qualified for the finals, Australia had the chance to knock India out of the tournament. They put a strong foot forward by scoring 284/7 in their 50 overs, thanks to brilliant innings from Mark Waugh and Michael Bevan.

For 25 minutes before the start of the innings, the now-iconic sandstorm occurred, which led to a revised target of 276 in 46 overs for Team India. While this was the target to win the match, India had a bigger goal in mind. They needed to score 237 runs to reach the final by surpassing New Zealand’s net run rate.

Watch the highlights of Sachin Tendulkar's Desert Storm knock here:

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#OnThisDay in 1998, @sachin_rt played his famous "Desert Storm" innings, 143(131) against Australia in Sharjah. After a sandstorm, Tendulkar helped India qualify for the final of the tri-series in a lone-warrior effort.

11:24 AM · Apr 22, 2025

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Tendulkar helps India qualify for final of tri-series

Sachin Tendulkar aimed not just to help India qualify for the final but also to win the match for his side. His lofted shots over the infield against Michael Kasprowicz and Damien Fleming were among the highlights of the match. The star batter’s cover drives were impeccable, and his aggressive batting was well ahead of its time.

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Despite wickets falling regularly at the other end, Tendulkar did not slow down. He was well set and determined to win the match for his team at all costs. Back in 1998, when ODI batting had not evolved as much, the right-handed batter took on the pace bowlers for fun, hitting them all around the park.

When he took a single to take India’s total past the 237-run mark needed to qualify for the final, loud cheers erupted from the fans. From 238/4 in 42.4 overs, India managed to score 250/5 at the end of their 46 overs. After Tendulkar’s dismissal, no one accelerated, which led to India’s loss. However, Tendulkar and India redeemed themselves by winning the final of the series.