Sachin, SCG 2004, and 241 lessons in restraint

As Rohit, Virat and Rishabh face scrutiny for the MCG loss, the Tendulkar classic from 2003-04 can inspire them

- ASHISH MAGOTRA IN AUSTRALIA

Sydney is many things to the world. It is Australia's city of superlatives. It is the iconic Opera House. It is the Harbour Bridge. It is the Bondi beach. It is Darling Harbour. But to many cricket-mad Indians, it is one thing alone - Sachin Tendulkar's 241*. And as the cricket moves there for the final Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, the knock still resonates deeply.

It still counts as the most fascinating innings of Tendulkar's career. For this is where he put his ego and his cover drive aside and humbled himself while acknowledging the greatness of the game. To watch it was part marvel, part pain. If you have worked on a skill all your life, it becomes a reflex action. It just happens as instinctively as blinking. But he cut it out - he was challenging his own natural order of things.

In his autobiography Playing it My Way, Tendulkar revealed how he went to the same restaurant in Sydney as he did on the eve of the match because he wanted his luck to continue. And there is another backstory to the Tendulkar masterclass in Sydney: a bet with his brother.

"I was playing well in that series but not getting big scores. I would make 30-40 runs and then throw my wicket away by attempting a big shot. I remember having a conversation with my brother (Ajit Tendulkar) and he told me that my shot selection was letting me down.