"I think I saw him unhappy for the first time" - Aakash Chopra on Sachin Tendulkar's reaction to being stranded on 194* in 2004 Multan Test
Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra recalled legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar being visibly unhappy in the dressing after he was left stranded on 194* during the first Test against Pakistan in Multan.
Winning the toss and batting first, India got into a commanding position at 356/2 at stumps on Day 1 with Tendulkar unbeaten on 60. The Indian dominance continued on Day 2 as the side scaled the 600-run mark and were 675/4 in the 162nd over. With Tendulkar batting on 194, skipper 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.
The move caused shockwaves as the Little Master was denied an opportunity to score his lone double-century against Pakistan.
Chopra was part of the Indian lineup for that game and scored a valuable 42 to get the side off to a solid start. Recalling Tendulkar's reaction to being stranded on 194*, 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. But the hosts saw off the period without the loss of a wicket while scoring 42 runs.
"It wasn't the captain's decision alone" - Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra defended the then-skipper Rahul Dravid for his call to declare the Indian innings with Tendulkar on 194* and said it was a collective move from the think-tank.
India's regular captain Sourav Ganguly missed the Test and Dravid took over 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.
Chopra further defended Dravid by saying the skipper would have done the same if he was in a similar position as Tendulkar.
"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.
Coming to the rest of the Test match, India bowled Pakistan out for 407 in their first innings and enforced the follow-on.
The hosts crumbled under pressure and were bowled out for a dismal 216 to surrender the contest by an innings and 52 runs inside four days.