4 min learnMar 29, 2026 09:06 PM IST
Na doosra na teesra, seedhe chautha!
That’s how Saqlain Mushtaq described the therapy he suffered by the hands of Virender Sehwag because the Nawab of Najafgarh grew to become Multan ka Sultan by hitting the primary Take a look at triple century by an Indian, on at the present time in Multan on the landmark tour of Pakistan in 2004.
India had by no means gained a Take a look at within the neighbouring nation and Sehwag’s assault on a flat observe went a good distance in sealing an innings victory in just a little over 4 days in a sport that additionally made information when the guests’ first innings was declared with Sachin Tendulkar unbeaten on 194.
However it was Sehwag who went the place no Indian had gone earlier than. The earlier highest by an Indian batsman was the 281 by VVS Laxman in that iconic Kolkata Take a look at three years earlier. Saqlain, the most effective spinners of his era and the pioneer of the doosra – the supply that deviates away from the right-hander – had been one of many trump playing cards for Inzamam-ul-Haq’s facet within the skipper’s hometown, however his 43 overs went for 204 runs. The off-spinner was memorably hit over broad long-on as Sehwag went from 295 to 301 in a single blow. Evidently, there was no burden of historical past on the opener, who all the time performed in his personal merry manner. By the point he was dismissed for 309 off solely 375 deliveries – together with 39 fours and 6 sixes – the Rahul Dravid-led workforce had already crossed 500 for the lack of simply three wickets in lower than a day and a half of cricket.
The tone of the match was set very early on. Profitable the toss, Sehwag and his Delhi teammate Aakash Chopra added 160 runs for the primary wicket in lower than 40 overs. The flat nature of the wicket necessitated that runs be scored shortly to allow the bowlers to take 20 wickets.
The Pakistan assault was led by Rawalpindi Specific Shoaib Akhtar, who endured 32 wicket-less overs for 110 runs. Mohammad Sami – who had been touted as a tempo prodigy – in addition to Shabbir Ahmed and Abdul Razzaq couldn’t make a lot impression both as India piled on 675/5 in lower than two days.
Battle of attrition
The Pakistan batting didn’t disintegrate however the sheer weight of runs meant {that a} first rate first innings rating of 407 was not even sufficient to keep away from the follow-on. Yasir Hameed and Inzamam acquired in however didn’t handle the massive scores that their workforce desperately wanted.
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And although the Indians needed to toil for 126.3 overs – Irfan Pathan taking 4 wickets – they determined to place Pakistan again in to implement a end result on the benign floor because the match was nicely into the fourth day.
The decision was vindicated in spades because the hosts weren’t as stubborn of their second essay, lasting solely 77 overs to be bowled out for 216, with Mohammad Yousuf’s century the one resistance supplied as Anil Kumble (6/72) being the wrecker-in-chief this time.
The innings-and-52-run win was India’s first on Pakistani soil and although the hosts gained the subsequent sport in Lahore by 9 wickets, the decider in Rawalpindi noticed India sealing a historic collection win.
It was India’s first Take a look at tour of Pakistan since 1989. Then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had despatched the workforce off with a message to win video games in addition to hearts, and the gamers delivered. Coming after the 3-2 triumph within the ODI collection and shut on the heels of a drawn Take a look at collection in Australia, it added lustre to the feel-good consider Indian cricket.