©REUTERS/Fayaz Kabli (INDIA) Picture Supplied by Action Images
It was India's first win over the world champions since January 2006, a streak of 11 games, and Australia's first defeat in 14 limited overs matches. The tourists lead 2-1 in the seven-match series.
Tendulkar top-scored with 79, overtaking Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq's previous record, to help India reach 291 for four after batting first on a slow pitch. Australia were restricted to 283 for seven.
India skipper Mahendra Dhoni made 50 not out from 35 balls and added two stumpings to win the man-of-the-match award.
Australian opener Matthew Hayden top-scored with 92 and Andrew Symonds hit 75, their third fifties in a row, to keep their team on course for victory.
However, left-arm paceman Rudra Pratap Singh bowled Symonds and ran out Brad Hogg (0) off his next delivery in the 47th over, leaving Australia needing 24 runs off 18 balls, with three wickets in hand.
They were left to get 16 runs in the last over bowled by left-armer Zaheer Khan but managed only seven.
Dhoni praised Tendulkar and Ganguly for their solid start and left-arm spinner Murali Kartik, who took one for 48 from 10 overs and who was superb in the last overs on his return to the side after 20 months.
"I was the person who wanted a left-arm spinner in the side and he proved his worth and contributed," he told reporters.
Australian skipper Ricky Ponting said: "It is just the big moments where we didn't capitalise. They performed pretty well under pressure with the ball more than anything today."
Tendulkar added 91 runs with fellow opener Saurav Ganguly, who made 41 on his return from an injury that later prevented him from fielding.
The 34-year-old also added 83 runs for the next wicket with Yuvraj Singh, who made 39. Australian bowlers sent down 31 wides to tally 39 extras, just one short of their worst-ever mark.
Tendulkar hit seven fours in his 119-ball knock until he was run out by a direct hit from Brett Lee at fine leg. It was some relief for the Australian strike bowler, who was unlucky not to have removed him twice before reaching double figures.
Ricky Ponting (29) joined Hayden to add 85 runs for the second wicket until he was stumped off left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan. Hayden was caught in the deep with his team 101 runs adrift.
Symonds batted sensibly, hitting just three fours and a six in his 84-ball effort, but his dismissal turned the game.
The fifth one-dayer will be played in Baroda on Thursday.
© Reuters 2007
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