CHENNAI: India’s master batsman Sachin Tendulkar dedicated his century and the team’s Test match victory against England yesterday to victims of last month’s terror attacks on Mumbai.

Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 103, his 41st century in 155 Tests, to guide India to a six-wicket victory in the opening Test of a series that came close to being abandoned following last month’s terror attacks in Mumbai.

“My heart goes out to those who went through that terrible time and to those who lost near and dear ones in the terror attacks,” said Tendulkar, himself a resident of Mumbai, the financial hub of India where he was born and took up a sport that has made him one of the country’s most famous citizens.

“What happened in Mumbai was extremely unfortunate. It was a terrible loss that will stay with all of us in our hearts,” Tendulkar said.

“I don’t think the Indian victory or me scoring a century would make people who lost their near and dear ones feel better. But I would like to dedicate my 100 and this Indian win to the victims of the terror attacks,” he said.

“There were a couple of children in my daughter’s school who lost their parents (in the attacks),” Tendulkar said, adding that the Indian cricket team would do anything to help these terror victims.

The Indian cricket board yesterday announced a contribution of 30 million Indian rupees ($600,000) (€444,110) to families of the security staff who died in the terror attacks. Out of this, 10 million rupees ($200,000) are to aid the rehabilitation of those who sustained injuries in the rescue operations.

In the wake of the Mumbai attacks, England flew back home after canceling the last two matches of a limited-overs series it was already losing 5-0.

The English players and officials pondered long and hard whether to travel back to India for the two Tests, and the series went ahead only after the tests were moved to venues deemed acceptable to England’s security team.

England’s team last week pledged to donate half of its match fees from the first Test to help victims of the terror attacks.

England players released a statement ahead of the match saying they would donate an estimated £35,000 ($52,000) to help those affected by the attacks.

The England team statement said its return to India was an “open and public statement of support for the Indian people following the tragic events in Mumbai,” and Tendulkar thanked them for returning to India for the Test series.

“I’d like to thank England for coming back, I think it was a terrific gesture on their part,” he said.