Sachin Tendulkar recalls how knowing Tamil helped him score a 200 against Tamil Nadu

Tendulkar chose the 1999-2000 semifinal against Tamil Nadu as the best game he has played in the Ranji Trophy in which he scored an unbeaten 233, that helped the hosts take a first-innings lead of five runs and later win the match by eight wickets.

"I will say it was the 1999-2000 semi-final against Tamil Nadu," Tendulkar replied to a query to him at the function to celebrate Mumbai's 500th Ranji game against Baroda commencing on Thursday as quoted by PTI.

He recalled that match and also described how Mumbai successfully took a lead over Tamil Nadu's first innings score of 485 and that time Santosh Saxena was with him at the crease as the last player. Tendulkar recalls that when the umpires had changed the ball it suddenly started to reverse at which time his Tamil knowledge along with his skill helped the team.

"I started to stand outside the crease and Hemang Badani will tell the bowler from the point in Tamil that I was standing outside. I then went back into the crease when the bowler started his run-up. After the match I told Badani that I understand Tamil", he told the gathering at the Mumbai CA's Sharad Pawar academy at the Bandra-Kurla complex.

Tendulkar also signals out that Mumbai's success percentage in the Ranji matches was 47 percent.

"Mumbai have won 47 percent of their matches as they approach their 500th. The success rate is unbelievable. And, that's an understatement," the 44-year-old said.