Hyderabad, May 25 -- In the year 1994, a decision made by Mohammed Azharuddin who was then the captain of the Indian team, not only won the match for India but affected the future of Indian cricket for many years to come. That crucial verdict was to allow Sachin Tendulkar to open the innings against New Zealand in an ODI at Auckland. The decisionallowedSachin to emerge as a hammerhead for the Indian team. As a result, both Sachin andIndia benefited from Azhar's verdict.

Sachin made his ODI debut in 1989 but was finding it difficult to get into the groove in thelimitedovers format. On most occasions, by thetime he walked into the pitch at number five or six, India was already underpressure. Sachin was thus given a scenario - perform or pe...