By Meghak Gupta 
The 2004 Multan Test between India and Pakistan is renowned for Virender Sehwag’s spectacular 309, marking the first triple-century by an Indian cricketer in Test history. However, another significant moment from the match stirred controversy: the declaration of India’s innings at 675/5, leaving Sachin Tendulkar stranded at 194 not out.
The decision, made by the team management led by captain Rahul Dravid, was intended to seize the match situation. Despite the strategic reasoning, Tendulkar’s near double century was cut short, leaving him visibly disappointed—a rare sight for his admirers.
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra recently shared insights on this incident, revealing that Tendulkar was profoundly unhappy, which Chopra described as a rare occurrence. Speaking to the YouTube channel 2 Sloggers, Chopra noted that he had never seen Tendulkar so discontented, even though he did not personally participate in the discussions about the declaration.
Chopra clarified that the decision to declare was not solely Dravid’s but was influenced by the broader team think-tank, which included Sourav Ganguly, who, despite not playing, was present in the dressing room. Chopra emphasized that Dravid’s decision was a collective one, not an individual one.
After the match, Dravid acknowledged that he might have reconsidered the declaration had he known the match would conclude within four days. Chopra reflected that while Dravid’s decision might have been contested in the heat of the moment, it was made with the best intentions.
This moment remains a significant chapter in cricket history, highlighting the challenges and emotions behind decision-making in high-stakes matches.