SK Flashback: Virender Sehwag becomes first Indian to score a triple century
29th of March 2004, India was on a tour of Pakistan after 15 long years. India had only won one series against Pakistan, 25 years before in 1979/80, that too in India. They had lost to Pakistan thrice, twice in their backyard and once in India.
Revenge was definitely on the minds of the Indians given this was one of the strongest sides they had ever fielded in whites.
Extra Cover: SK Flashback: Rahul Dravid declares with Sachin Tendulkar on 194
In the first Test at Multan, captain Rahul Dravid won the toss and chose to bat first against a Pakistan bowling attack that had three stalwarts – Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami and Saqlain Mushtaq, along with a decent support cast.
The steady opening stand
India needed to bat big to make sure they start well in the series, and start well they did. Aakash Chopra and Virender Sehwag added 160 for the opening wicket, at 4 runs per over. When Chopra fell, he had scored 42 off 121 balls.
Sehwag had already raced to 111 in just 119 balls by then, with 14 fours and 4 sixes. Saqlain was marked for special treatment. In the 24th over, Sehwag smashed the spinner for two fours and a six. A little later Akhtar was dispatched for a four and six too.
However, Pakistan tried to pull things back with a double strike as Sami got Rahul Dravid out cheaply for just 6. India were 173 for 2 in the 43rd over.