Sachin first opened in ODIs due to Sidhu's 'stiff neck'

Sachin Tendulkar came out to open the innings for the first time in international cricket on March 27, 1994, against New Zealand in Auckland. Sachin got a chance to open with Ajay Jadeja as Navjot Singh Sidhu, the first-choice opener, woke up with a stiff neck and didn't play the ODI. Tendulkar scored 82 off 49 balls in his innings.