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Sachin Tendulkar might have clattered his way to a swashbuckling 56 off only 23 balls at the All-Stars game in Los Angeles on Saturday, but his mind might have gone 26 years back. On November 15, 1989, India and Pakistan faced off at Karachi for the first Test in a four match series, which would ultimately be drawn 0-0. Unnoticed by many then, two greats of cricket made their debuts in that match, Tendulkar himself and the Pakistani speed demon Waqar Younis.

Tendulkar made a rather unremarkable debut. When Pakistan batted in the first innings, he bowled the solitary over and gave away ten runs in that. And when he came out to bat for the first time on the international stage, he pottered his way to 15 before Younis, showing early signs of his genius, squared him up and knocked out his off stump with an out-swinger.

However, Tendulkar did not take long to prove that he belonged on the big stage. A month later, the arch-rivals met again at the final Test in Sialkot. India despite gaining a first innings lead, were struggling in the second – when Tendulkar came out, the score was 38/4. On a green track, Younis steamed in and delivered a vicious bouncer which hit the Mumbai maestro squarely on his nose, leaving him bunched over and bleeding.

Yet, despite his tender years, Tendulkar showed immense tenacity to shake off that crippling blow and battle his way to a hard-fought 57. India ultimately went on to draw the series, but cricket had just witnessed something special – the coming-of-age of two men who would play a distinct role of their respective countries’ cricketing narratives.

Interestingly after the Test series, Tendulkar showed off that he could hit a cricket ball a fair few miles as well, hitting four sixes in an over against Abdul Qadir, the foremost leg-spinner of his day, in an exhibition match at Peshawar.