February 24, 2010: A date etched in golden letters in cricket annals. Sachin Tendulkar’s unbeaten 200 against South Africa in Gwalior wasn’t merely a personal milestone; it was a seismic shift for ODI cricket. Facing a must-win scenario after losing the series opener by a whisker, South Africa watched helplessly as Tendulkar dismantled their attack.
Opening with Virender Sehwag, India raced to 25/0 before Sehwag fell for 9. Tendulkar then anchored with Karthik (79 off 85), adding 194, followed by 81 with Pathan (36), and an unbroken 101 with Dhoni (68*). The result? 401/3, with Tendulkar’s masterclass featuring 25 boundaries and 3 maximums off 147 deliveries.
South Africa’s reply was woeful. De Villiers’ gritty 114 couldn’t rescue them from 248, handing India a 153-run thrashing. Bowling stars like Sreesanth (3 wickets), Nehra, Jadeja, Pathan (2 each), and Praveen Kumar dominated.
This innings transformed mindsets. What was once fantasy became routine—12 double tons now grace ODI records. Tendulkar didn’t just score runs; he scripted a blueprint for modern ODI dominance, ensuring February 24 remains a pivotal chapter in the sport’s evolution.