SACHIN Tendulkar turned his thoughts immediately to the victims of the Mumbai terrorist attacks, after completing an emotional century to secure victory for India in the opening Test against England.
Nearly three weeks after India was rocked by the attacks on several of Mumbai's leading landmarks, which killed 181 people, Tendulkar lifted the mood of the nation with one of the most timely and telling hundreds of his career.
The 35-year-old m
aster batsman hit an outstanding 103 not out to guide India to their target of 387 with just over an hour of play remaining, having masterminded the fourth-highest successful run chase in Test history and the biggest fourth-innings total at the Chepauk Stadium.
Tendulkar's five-hour stay at the crease, sharing in a match-winning 163-run partnership with Yuvraj Singh, would have been exceptional at any time – but after the events in Mumbai, it was greeted with even more fervour than normal by the 30,000 crowd.
"By no means am I saying this will make everyone forget what happened in Mumbai," he said. "But I'd like to thank England for coming back and playing Test cricket, and we've witnessed a wonderful Test match – people are enjoying cricket the way it's meant to be.
"What happened in Mumbai was extremely unfortunate, and I don't think by India winning or me scoring a hundred, people who have lost their loved ones will feel any better.
"It's a terrible loss for all of them, and our hearts are with them. But whatever manner we can contribute to making them feel better, we'll make that effort."
As Mumbai's most celebrated resident, Tendulkar has fronted a television advert accompanying the cricket coverage in which he underlined the significance of this Test – promising: "I play for India now, more than ever."
