ON December 10, Indian batting genius Sachin Tendulkar became Test cricket’s top-most century-maker, when he scored his 35th century against Sri Lanka at New Delhi.

Playing in his 125th Test match -- the batting maestro blended solid defiance with controlled aggression to reach a much anticipated landmark.

From reports emanating out of India, and a special package of extended footage of the century milestone loaned to me on DVD from my rakhi bhein (adopted sister, Shoba Sandhya Singh -- Television personality) of India, I now have a good idea of what the innings looked like.

An estimated 15,000 spectators cheered, roared and applauded with extreme delight as the great player (Tendulkar) turned the last ball of the first day’s play from left-arm paceman, Chaminda Vaas, to fine leg, for that elusive single, to bring up his record-breaking century.

He thus surpassed former Indian captain/opener Sunil Gavaskar’s record of 34, set 18 years ago.

India was united in its praise for this latest piece of grandeur from the genius player; it moved President Abdul Kalam, who remarked: “The entire nation is proud of you and may you achieve success in future in all your ventures.”

Even Gavaskar, whose mark Tendulkar equalled in December of 2004, was effusive in praise of his successor; he hailed as one of the true all-time batting greats.

“When a record is taken, there is always a tinge of sadness, but when it is broken by a talent as prodigious as Sachin and a fellow Indian, that tinge is forgotten in a trice -- and one rejoices in a new benchmark being set,” Gavaskar wrote in a column.

Tendulkar’s achievement dominated prime-time television and all of India’s leading newspapers, including Hindustan Times, Times of India, India Today, The Sun and Sports World, including All India Radio.

Sri Lankan’s coach Bob Woolmer said that Sachin can go on to score 50 Test match centuries.

He is that great a player, and sub-continental rivals, past and present, all offered congratulations -- Inzamam-ul-Haq, Wasim Akram, Imran Khan, Wasim Bari, Habibul Bashar and Abdul Qadir.

Tendulkar whose 109 was one of only two centuries recorded in the Three-Test series (Laxman’s 104 being the other), received congrats from all the Sri Lankan players.

He took out Gavaskar’s mark in 14 innings less.

Sidelined for over half of 2005, following a series of injuries and an elbow surgery, Sachin, from the footage I saw of his 109, played beautifully on both sides of the wicket and decorated his world-record breaking ton with 15 fours and one six.

Tendulkar began his historic innings by overcoming Muttiah Muralitharan’s craft and deadly precision, and Chaminda Vaas “nous” (his swinging delivery), by ruthlessly cashing in after a few strong LBW appeals and some really hostile and pacy short-pitched stuff from Dilhara Fernando (quickest of the Lankans).

The maestro displayed glimpses of his glorious youth, meshed perfectly with impeachable maturity; his century at best spotted a rich blend/array of strokes.

A classical flick for four, off Fernando, was followed by an imperious cover-drive off the said bowler; a full-throttle cover-drive and a masterful straight-drive off Vaas were completed with his follow-through while on his knees.

In an over from “The Mummy” Muralitharan, he lashed the great off-spinner for three consecutive fours and a six.

Generally, Tendulkar displayed feet twinkling movements, bat flourishing display and one back-foot slap with a Caribbean dash.

After reaching 50, he methodically dismantled the bowling -- and at precisely 4.44 a.m. (TnT time), 12-hour India distance -- he rocked back, turned Vaas to backward square-leg and punched the air with delight, as the entire stadium erupted -- thanking God as he looked up.

His eventual 121-run fourth-wicket stand with former captain Saurav Ganguly (40) was the 58th century partnership of his glorious career, equalling Gavaskar’s world record, also of 58.

Sachin Tendulkar (like good friend/secret rival and another batting genius Brian Lara) is a multiple world record holder.

In addition, he is the highest century-maker also in One Day International matches -- making him thus the only batsman to hold the world record in both forms of the game for centuries, at one given time.

He has played in an ODI game on 89 different grounds throughout the world, which is a record, and stands 88 runs shy of completing 14,000 in One Day Internationals.

In 57 home Tests, Tendulkar has made 4,834 runs (average 56.87) -- hitting 16 centuries: one every 3.56 Test.

In 69 overseas Tests, the great man has scored 5,489 runs (average 56.58) -- hitting 19 centuries (most by any player in history): one every 3.63 Test.

His 10,323 runs have come on 52 different grounds (another record), with over 1,414 fours.

Sachin Tendulkar for long has been amongst the greatest of batsmen and unarguably the most prolific there has ever been -- his style, stature, stamina, records, achievements and modesty have already earned him a place in any all-time Test/ODI/World XI.

His 24,235 runs in total, to date, at the International level of the game, with 73 centuries, attest to this.

One must also remember he has scored a Test match hundred at 26 separate venues, home and away.

Congrats again, Sachin, as Hrithik Roshan said: Let’s go for it -- 50 Test hundreds!

Finally, my good cricket critic friend, Anil Ranjitsinghji, must be delighted -- he has been a fan of the great man in all seasons.