Aakash Chopra On Sachin Tendulkar Being Unhappy: Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra recently opened up about how Sachin Tendulkar was unhappy when Rahul Dravid declared an inning with him being stranded at 194 against Pakistan in Multan.
The 2004 India vs Pakistan series is a historic one. This was the first time that the Menin Blue played any Test in Pakistan in about 14 years. This was also the first, and so far the only Test series that India won a Test series away against our neighbours to the west.
The first match of that series was played in Multan. This is the same Test where Virender Sehwag became the first Indian to score a triple-century and was hence nicknamed the ‘Sultan of Multan’.
India won the toss in that game and decided to bat on a flat track. Sehwag took to the field with Chopra, and the two notched up a 160-run partnership before Aakash was dismissed. Captain Dravid was dismissed soon after as Sanchin walked in and the two batters weaved together one of the biggest 3rd wicket partnerships in Test history.
Check Out: Aakash Chopra On Sachin Tendulkar Being Unhappy
Tendulkar and Sehwag scored 336 runs together, in which the former reached his 100 and the latter his 300 before getting out.
Having batted for about two days, there was still some time left in the second day’s play. With the Master Blaster on 194*, then captain Rahul Dravid declared the Indian inning on 675/5. This sparked a massive controversy as the team’s best player was denied a double-ton by the skipper.
In years since, Dravid has explained away his decision to declare that day, claiming that about an over before the declaration, he had sent a message to Sachin that he had an over to score six runs. But then Yuvraj Singh lost his wicket. Seeing the sunset and the day’s play nearing the end, the captain decided that he needed to declare and try to take a few wickets before the end of Day 2, which they could not do in the 16 overs they bowled to Pakistan.
Check Out: Aakash Chopra On Sachin Tendulkar Being Unhappy
Aakash Chopra On Sachin Tendulkar Being Unhappy
Aakash Chopra, who is now a cricket broadcaster, played that match and was in the dressing room when the ‘declaration incident’ happened. He recently discussed the whole ordeal on the 2 Sloggers Podcast, claiming that he saw Sachin Tendulkar unhappy for the first time that day.
“I was in the dressing room, but I wasn’t part of that conversation. To be very honest, I didn’t even try to get into it because I was too young. Yes, Paaji wasn’t happy that day. I think I saw him unhappy for the first time. I never saw him lose temper, and he didn’t exactly lose temper that day, but he was visibly unhappy. Something wasn’t right,” he said.
But Chopra also clarified that it was not Rahul Dravid’s decision alone, as the whole think tank agreed on the declaration, saying,
“Rahul did call, but Dada (Ganguly) was part of the dressing room that day too. He wasn’t playing in that game, but he was in the dressing room, and I’m sure he was part of the think tank. It wasn’t the captain’s decision alone. After the game, Rahul did say that he wouldn’t have declared had he known the match would end within 4 days.”
India not only went on to win that match but won it by an inning and 52 runs as Virender Sehwag was named the Player of the Match. India lost the second match but won the third one to win a Test series in Pakistan for the first time.
Check Out: Aakash Chopra On Sachin Tendulkar Being Unhappy
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