Year 2009
42nd century: It came at a place which proved to be Indian batting's graveyard in 2002-03. India went to New Zealand this year after that debacle tour. It was tipped to be one of the toughest tour as nobody knew how the conditions were.
After Indian pacers ripped the Kiwi batting apart in the first Test at Hamilton, Sachin got down to his task and slammed 160 runs for his 42nd ton. Most importantly, his knock backed by lethal bowling gave India a win in New Zealand after a gap of 33 years.
43rd Test century: Sachin celebrated his 20 years in Test cricket with an unbeaten 100 runs in the second innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad in December 2009. There were seven centuries scored in that match. Failing to score in the first innings, Sachin scored a subdued 298-ball 100 runs in the second.