India leg spinner, donning the role of Warne.

[citation needed] In their tour opener, Australia faced the then

Ranji Champions Mumbai at the Brabourne Stadium in a three-day first class match.[79] Tendulkar
made an unbeaten 204 as Shane Warne conceded 111 runs in 16 overs and Australia lost the
match within three days.[80][81] These were characterised by a premeditated plan to target Australian
spinners Shane Warne and Gavin Robertson, to whom he regularly charged down the pitch to drive
over the infield.[citation needed] This technique worked as India beat Australia in the ensuing Test series as
well.[citation needed] He also had a role with the ball in the five-match ODI series in India following the
Tests, including a five wicket haul in an ODI in Kochi. Set 310 runs to win, Australia were cruising at
203 for 3 in the 31st over when Tendulkar turned the match for India, taking the wickets of Michael
Bevan, Steve Waugh, Darren Lehmann, Tom Moody and Damien Martyn for just 32 runs in 10
overs.[82] The Test match success was followed by two consecutive centuries in April 1998 in a
Triangular cricket tournament in Sharjah the first in a must-win game to take India to the finals and
then again in the finals, both against Australia tormenting Shane Warne once again. These twin
knocks were also known as the Desert Storm innings.[83] The innings in the finals was incidentally
played on his 25th birthday. Following the series Warne ruefully joked that he was having
nightmares about his Indian nemesis.[84]