Tendulkar went out to bat 18 times in Test matches in the year 2001. He added three centuries to his kitty, making it 27 Test hundreds in his distinguished career. He made a brilliant 126 against the Aussies at Chennai in a match that India won by the skin of their teeth. The little master then had to wait out an injury layoff before smashing a wonderful 155 on comeback against South Africa at Bloemfontein, albeit in a losing cause. His third hundred (103) of the year was scored against the visiting Englishmen at Ahmedabad, a crucial innings that helped India save many blushes.