EThe 2004 Multan Cricket Test between India and Pakistan was marked by a triple century by Indian opener Virender Sehwag. In the same Test in which Veer became the first Indian to score a triple, captain Sachin Dravid’s decision to declare an innings with Sachin Tendulkar scoring an individual score of 194 came to a head.
Yuvraj Singh, who was part of the team in the Multan Test, has now come out with the idea that the team should have allowed Tendulkar to score a double century. Yuvraj’s comment comes 18 years following the controversial Test.
The declaration came as India 5 had a score of 675. Dravid declared the innings following Yuvraj, who was at the crease with Tendulkar, was dismissed for 59.
“During the match we were told that the innings would be declared soon and therefore we would have to score quickly. If there was one more over, he (Tendulkar) would have scored those six runs because following that we bowled 8-10 overs. Even if India had batted in the next couple of overs, I don’t think it would have changed the outcome of the match, “Yuvraj said in an exclusive interview with Sportz18.
” Whether it was the third or fourth day of the game, you can declare the importance of the team even if you bat for 150 runs. There will be differences of opinion on this. However, the team might have waited for him to complete 200 runs to declare that day, ”Yuvraj added.
India won the Multan Test by an innings and 52 runs. India won the Test series 2-1. It was also India’s first Test series victory on Pakistani soil.
At that time, Dravid’s decision to declare an innings caused a great deal of controversy in Indian cricket. Many, including former players, came out with different opinions. Tendulkar also mentioned the incident in his autobiography ‘Playing It My Way’.
