Sachin Tendulkar breaks his ODI duck with historic century on 9 September 1994

Sachin Tendulkar, perhaps the greatest cricketer of all time, had his share of struggles. In the ODI format, Tendulkar’s towering achievements captivate fans, yet his early career was far from smooth.

Despite making his ODI debut in 1989, he endured a barren spell of nearly five years without a three‑figure score. The shackles finally broke on this day, some 32 years ago.

Sachin Tendulkar scores his maiden ODI century

On 9 September 1994, a 21‑year‑old Sachin Tendulkar ended a surprising drought in the ODI format. Playing against Australia at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, he struck a composed 110 runs off 130 balls in the third match of the Singer World Series.

It had taken Tendulkar 79 ODIs and 76 innings to reach his first three‑figure score. Prior to that breakthrough, he had amassed 2,126 runs at an average of 32.70, including 17 fifties but no centuries.

The century was especially meaningful as Tendulkar had recently been moved to the top of India’s batting order.

Earlier in 1994 he had opened against New Zealand in Auckland, scoring 82 runs off just 49 balls. That promotion gave him greater influence in matches and would become one of the defining decisions of his career.

Against Australia, Tendulkar started aggressively before settling into a controlled innings. He reached his half‑century in 43 balls and built partnerships before reaching three figures with a square‑cut off Shane Warne. He was dismissed for 110 by Craig McDermott, but India posted 246/8 and won by 31 runs.

More importantly, the century seemed to unlock a new dimension in Tendulkar’s ODI batting.

How Tendulkar transformed after his first ODI century

After that landmark hundred, Tendulkar’s career average rose dramatically. He went on to add over 16,300 ODI runs and 48 further centuries, posting an average of around 47.10 thereafter.

The change was not merely statistical. Tendulkar became more consistent, aggressive and dominant at the top of the order. Between 1994 and 2000 he scored 8,220 runs at an average of 45.66 and struck 27 centuries.

Remarkably, he scored six more centuries in his next 40 ODIs after his first ton. In 1995‑96, his emergence accelerated; he totalled seven centuries that year, averaging 50.12.

That boy who once waited years for an ODI hundred became the format’s most prolific century‑maker. Tendulkar finished his ODI career with 18,426 runs and 49 centuries—records that cement his legacy as one of cricket’s greatest batsmen.

The Colombo hundred was therefore far more than a milestone; it marked the start of Tendulkar’s transformation from a talented youngster into the “Master Blaster” who would redefine ODI batting.

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