Sachin Tendulkar seldom was seen angry on or off the field. However, former India opener Aakash Chopra revealed seeing the great batter unhappy for the first time when Rahul Dravid declared India’s innings when he was 194* in the first Test against Pakistan in Multan during the 2004 tour.
This was the first time India toured Pakistan for the first time since 1989 and saw Virender Sehwag becoming the first Indian batter to score a triple hundred in Tests. Sachin Tendulkar added 336 runs for the 3rd wicket with Sehwag and continued pummeling Pakistani bowling as he made his way towards a double hundred.
However, in one of the most controversial and talked about moments in Indian cricket history, stand-in captain Rahul Dravid infamously declared Indian innings with Tendulkar on 194* with a team score of 675/5d.
India did go on to win the match by an innings and 52 runs as Pakistan managed 407 and 216 in their two innings.
The decision to declare was strategic, based on the team's evaluation of the match circumstances. It was widely assumed that by declaring the innings at that point, India could take advantage of a tired Pakistani team and a deteriorating pitch.
The timing of the declaration, with Tendulkar only six runs away from a double century, astounded many fans and players alike. Tendulkar, who had been eyeing the milestone, was visibly disappointed as he walked off the field.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra, who scored 42 in the only innings India played, opened up on the dressing room scenes following the declaration. Chopra recalled that Tendulkar was “unhappy” with the call and it seemed something “wasn't right.”
“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 his temper, and he didn't exactly lose his temper that day but he was visibly unhappy. Something wasn't right,” Chopra told YouTube channel 2 Sloggers.
Chopra further revealed that the decision to declare the innings may have been made by team management rather than Dravid alone. He added that Sourav Ganguly was also in the dressing room and that while he was not playing, Ganguly was the first-team captain and an important member of the leadership squad.
“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. With Rahul, it is possible that in the heat of the moment, you agree or disagree. But you don't doubt his decision. You know that even if he was in a similar position, he would've taken the same decision,” Chopra said.
India went on to win the three-match Test series 2-1.
