Sachin Tendulkar was delighted to have contributed to India's cause after completing his 40th Test century in the final Test against Australia in Nagpur.
The 35-year-old scored 109 in 188 balls as India ended the first day on 311-5 in a match the tourists need to win.
Tendulkar now averages 64 in the series and said: "I have gone in at crucial moments almost four or five times and I have been able to play.
"That is very satisfying when you deliver when the team needs you most."
Having struggled in the series against Sri Lanka, Tendulkar had not reached three figures since the last match against Australia in January.
Coming to the crease with India on 99-2, and then losing Virender Sehwag 17 runs later, it was crucial for his country Tendulkar performed with the bat.
The world's leading run-scorer added: "After Adelaide, I have played around six or seven matches. I know I am batting well, but I was not getting to the three-figure landmark.
606: DEBATE"But I don't think that is everything. Each ton is a different one and has its own importance. Today was a little different, I tried to get it in a different style."
Tendulkar's century was not without incident, being dropped twice - on 85 and 96 - from the bowling of Australia's debutant off-spinner Jason Krejza.
Tendulkar said that Krejza, who took 3-138 off 28 overs, had been "a bit unlucky", but the 25-year-old Australian was happy with his haul, which included Rahul Dravid, Sehwag and VVS Laxman.
"I was expecting them to come after me and they did," he said. "I kept my head on my shoulders, chatted to Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden, got my nerves down and bowled quite well."
And despite 11 runs coming off his opening over and 32 from his first three, Krejza continued to attack.
"I probably get that from my dad's side," he added about his father who was a professional footballer in the Czech Republic. "He's a hard European bloke.
"It's something that you learn over the years with your bowling. You're always going to get hit as a spinner, if you're going to be an attacking spinner."
Speaking about his Test debut Krejza said: "It was good to get it out of the way. It was good to get the cap, it had been a nervous wait."
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