IND vs SA: When the centuries since Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Azharuddin were not enough to save India from defeat | Cricket News

As India and South Africa prepare for their much-anticipated Test series which begins on November 14 at Eden Gardens, memories of one of the most breathtaking partnerships between the two nations are flooding back. The 222-run stand between Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Azharuddin in Cape Town in 1997 still remains one of the most iconic stands of the clash. These innings, forged under immense pressure, remain one of the greatest examples of India’s fighting spirit, even in defeat. The upcoming series, helmed by Shubman Gill for India and Temba Bavuma for South Africa, promises its own dramatic and brilliant chapters. But for those who witnessed that unforgettable day in Cape Town, the benchmark for courage goes back some 28 years.

India’s tour of South Africa in 1996/97 had started disastrously in Durban, where pacer Allan Donald and company dismantled the visitors for 100 and 66. At Newlands, facing a mountain of 529 for seven declared in the first innings, India collapsed again to 58 for five. It was then that Tendulkar and Azharuddin turned the tide with a gargantuan effort, winning hearts and marking a partnership that will be remembered for generations. The two adopted contrasting methods but had a common goal. In just an hour after lunch, the duo completed more than 100 runs on the flow. The passage of the game remains among the most exhilarating in Test history. As Nelson Mandela watched from the stands, Tendulkar and Azharuddin dismantled the South African bowling attack of Donald, Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener, Brian McMillan and Paul Adams. Tendulkar’s 169 was a display of attack and precise control, while Azharuddin’s 115 from 110 balls was all power.The partnership ended at 222 when Azhar was run out, and only a spectacular catch from Adam Bacher could dismiss Tendulkar. Even the South African fans applauded the genius they witnessed. Despite all these feats, India ultimately lost by 282 runs, but this partnership remains etched in cricketing memory. With South Africa now returning to India for their first Test series since 2019, anticipation is high. The two-match series, first in Kolkata and then in Guwahati, will also mark Rishabh Pant’s return to the Test, with the keeper-batsman named vice-captain. For the hosts, it’s a chance to strengthen their World Test Championship campaign, while for the visitors, a test against India’s depth and resilience at home awaits.

For fans though, the memories of Tendulkar and Azharuddin’s challenge in Cape Town join a list of iconic moments that this rivalry has often delivered – be it Virender Sehwag’s century on his Test debut, or S Sreesanth’s unplayable delivery to Jacques Kallis.