Recently a story broke out on the Internet. It was about Dale Steyn talking about the 200 that Sachin Tendulkar scored in Gwalior. The 2010 Gwalior ODI was an epic game in itself in which India scored more than 400 runs. Sachin became the first batsman ever in ODI history to score a double hundred. However, it did not come without some controversy.
As Steyn revealed recently, umpire Ian Gould had the chance to give Sachin out in the 190s. However, he did not do that, since he wanted to reach his hotel-room without a problem. Despite that, this story has been found out to be a total lie.
Here is the ball by ball details of Sachin Tendulkar and Steyn during the 2010 Gwalior ODI-
Over 0.3 – 0 runs. Contact with Pads – No. Hit towards the cover fielder.
Over 0.4 – 0 runs. Contact with Pads – No. Hit towards the cover fielder.
Over 0.5 – 0 runs. Contact with Pads – No. Played towards offside.
Over 0.6 – 0 runs. Contact with Pads – No. Played towards the bowler.
Nothing happened in the first over. Then the two faced off again in their third over. A similar result there, with Sachin Tendulkar facing a couple of balls.
Over 2.2 – 1 run. Contact with Pads – No.
Over 2.6 – 4 runs. Contact with Pads – No.
In the fifth over, Sachin had a cautious approach against Steyn. The result was a similar one, yet again.
Over 4.1 – 0 runs. Contact with Pads – No. Played towards the cover region.
Over 4.2 – 0 runs. Contact with Pads – No. Played towards the mid-on.
Over 4.3 – 4 runs. Contact with Pads – No.
Over 4.4 – 0 runs. Contact with Pads – No. Beaten on outside edge.
Over 4.5 – 2 runs. Contact with Pads – No.
Over 4.6 – 0 runs. Contact with Pads – No. Played back to the bowler.
The seventh over yielded something very similar once again. Tendulkar did not attack Steyn and showed him the respect he deserves.
Over 6.1 – 0 runs. Contact with Pads – No. Hit towards the mid-off.
Over 6.2 – 4 runs. Contact with Pads – No.
Over 6.3 – 0 runs. Contact with Pads – No. A leading-edge went towards the covers fielder.
Over 6.4 – 0 runs. Contact with Pads – Yes. The ball would have missed the leg-stump.
Over 6.5 – 1 run. Contact with Pads – No.
A couple of deliveries in the ninth and eleventh over yielded a similar result as well. No appeals, nothing.
Over 8.6 – 1 run. Contact with Pads – No.
Over 10.5 – 1 run. Contact with Pads – No.
Steyn returned in the 35th over. The approach was still the same. This was the time that Sachin Tendulkar was on fire.
Over 34.1 – 0 runs. Contact with Pads – No. Played towards point fielder.
Over 34.2 – 4 runs. Contact with Pads – No.
Over 34.3 – 0 runs. Contact with Pads – No. Missed the ball which was close to the wide line.
Over 34.4 – 0 runs. Contact with Pads – No. Missed the ball which was close to the wide line.
Over 34.5 – 4 runs. Contact with Pads – No.
Over 34.6 – 1 run. Contact with Pads – No.
Once again, nothing more in the 37th over as well.
Over 36.4 – 4 runs. Contact with Pads – No.
Over 36.5 – 0 runs. Contact with Pads – No. Missed an uppercut.
Over 36.6 – 4 runs. Contact with Pads – No.
Lastly, in the 47th over, when Sachin was close to his double-hundred, he faced three deliveries from the fast-bowler. There was no appeal, no LBW shout, nothing at all. All hype and no show.
Over 46.1 – 1 run. Contact with Pads – No.
Over 46.3 – 0 runs. Contact with Pads – No. A leading-edge went back to the bowler.
Over 46.4 – 1 run. Contact with Pads – No.
No Facts To Back His Talk
It is quite clear from the whole description above that Steyn never did actually get Sachin in any sort of trouble. It was just an over-exaggeration of some other possible game, which he mixed with this one.
Whatever happened back then, does not add up. Due to this, it is clear to say that the whole story was made up. It is high time that Dale Steyn apologizes to the cricketing world. Sachin Tendulkar was, is and will be, the greatest of all time. Every Indian knows that and it is high time that the world remembers that too.
