Cricket's ''Little Master'' will have to wait a little longer to claim one of the sport's most-anticipated milestones.
Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed only one big hit away from becoming the first batsman to score 100 international centuries when he fell for 94 during the third test on Friday against West Indies.
Tendulkar already holds most of cricket's major batting records, including the most runs and centuries in both tests and one-day internationals, as well as the highest ODI score - 200 not out against South Africa last year.
He is increasingly compared with Australian great, the late Donald Bradman, whose batting average of 99.94 is well ahead of all others in the 134-year history of test cricket. It was Bradman who once said that Tendulkar is the batsman who most reminded him of his own playing style.
Tendulkar could still reach the milestone in India if he is picked for the final two matches of an upcoming five-game ODI series against West Indies. He has been rested for the opening three fixtures and the team for the last two will be selected at a later date.
Otherwise, he'll have to bide his time until the tour of Australia, starting in December, for a chance to achieve a feat that all of India wants for him.
Resuming on 67 at his home ground of Wankhede Stadium, Tendulkar was tantalizingly close to his century when he edged a delivery from pace bowler Ravi Rampaul early on the fourth day. He knew immediately that his time in the middle was over.
West Indies captain Darren Sammy jumped up in jubilation on taking the catch at second slip, while Tendulkar cut a dejected figure as he looked sideways in disappointment before trudging off the ground.
The crowd, which had been urging him on with chants of ''Sach-in, Sach-in,'' was reduced to a stunned silence.
''I know a lot of fans are down, heartbroken. But we can't just let him get out there and live freely,'' West Indies fast bowler Ravi Rampaul said. ''When I walked back to the boundary it wasn't all that nice, as I got heckled in a way. But that's how cricket goes.''
Tendulkar strode confidently to the crease to start the morning and drove a boundary in the very first over off Rampaul with a stylish flick to the leg side.
The new ball which had been taken in the morning seemed to have no effect on Tendulkar as he straight-drove Rampaul for four and hit paceman Fidel Edwards through the covers for his third boundary of the day. He then had the crowd up on its feet as he moved to 93 with a slashed six off Edwards over third man.
Tendulkar faced 20 deliveries in the morning session and smashed a total of eight fours and two sixes in a 153-ball knock.
The 100th century has been anticipated since he notched two 100s during this year's World Cup to reach a total of 99. This is the second time he's been out in the 90s in pursuit of the milestone, after scoring 91 at The Oval during India's tour of England this year.
''I think a lot of people have started putting unnecessary pressure on him,'' India batsman Virat Kohli said. ''He would be obviously disappointed to miss the century but he is not one to be disappointed for too long; he looked pretty relaxed in the dressing room.''
His 51 test centuries and 48 ODI hundreds are testament to not only his talent but also a perseverance that has led to the kind of longevity rarely seen in modern-day cricket.
He has long endured comparisons to Bradman, but former India coach and Australia captain Greg Chappell wrote recently in his autobiography ''Fierce Focus'' that no one has ever been under as much pressure as Tendulkar.
''Not even Don Bradman carried expectations like this, and Sachin had been bearing it since 1989,'' Chappell wrote. ''If he didn't train and then performed badly, he'd have been blamed. People would notice. And there was no relief for him going out onto the streets either. He just couldn't get any rest.''
Tendulkar has carried the burden of expectation since his debut tour to Pakistan as a chubby 16-year-old with a curly mess of hair.
From facing the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Courtney Walsh and Allan Donald to taking on Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Brett Lee and Shaun Tait, he has mastered the world's best bowlers as both a teenager and a senior batsman.
Tendulkar has limited his participation in one-dayers since scoring a double-century last year, but he remains as energetic as any of his teammates in the field and in running between the wickets.
He has adjusted well to the changing nature of the sport by not only perfecting new strokes like the ''uppercut'' and ''paddle-sweep,'' but also carving a niche in the fast-paced, big-hitting IPL Twenty20 tournament.
Home fans have long referred to him as the ''God of Cricket,'' but even his teammates have put him on a pedestal in recent years with several of them saying they owe this year's World Cup title to him.
Tendulkar being carried aloft on the shoulders of his teammates with the World Cup trophy in hand remains the most memorable moment of celebration for fans in this cricket-crazy country of 1.2 billion.
