Former Indian opener turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra recalled batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar being visibly unhappy in the dressing after he was left stranded on 194* during the first Test against Pakistan in Multan as well. Winning the toss and batting first, India got into a good position at 356/2 at stumps on Day 1 with Tendulkar unbeaten on 60 as well. They dominated on Day 2 as the side scaled the 600-run mark and were 675/4 in the 162nd over as well. With Tendulkar batting on 194, captain Rahul Dravid made the stunning decision to declare the innings to have a proper bowl at the hosts at the fag end of the second day as well.
The move left everyone surprised as the Little Master was denied an opportunity to score his lone double-century against Pakistan. Chopra said on the YouTube channel 2 Sloggers as quoted by Hindustan Times “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.”
The declaration, however, allowed India to bowl 16 overs at Pakistan before stumps on Day 2 as well. But the hosts played without the
loss of a wicket while scoring 42 runs. Aakash Chopra defended Rahul Dravid for his call to declare the Indian innings with Tendulkar on 194* and said that it was a collective move from the think-tank. India’s regular captain Sourav Ganguly missed the Test and Dravid took over the charge in his absence.
“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 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,” said Chopra. “With Rahul, it is possible that in heat of the moment, you agree or disagree. But you don’t doubt his decision. You know that even if he was at a similar position, he would’ve taken the same decision,” he concluded.
