The Multan Declaration: A Moment of Tension Between Dravid and Tendulkar
In 2004, during the first Test of India’s historic series against Pakistan in Multan, an unforgettable incident occurred that left a lasting impact on the relationship between two cricketing legends: Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar.
With India’s score at 675/5, Dravid, standing in as captain for the injured Sourav Ganguly, made the surprising decision to declare the innings, leaving Tendulkar stranded on 194 not out. The decision was based on strategic reasons, as Dravid believed it would give India the best chance to capitalize on the deteriorating pitch and the tired opposition.
However, the declaration left Tendulkar visibly unhappy. Former India opener Aakash Chopra, who was part of that match, recalled the atmosphere in the dressing room after the call was made. “Paaji wasn’t happy that day,” Chopra said. “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.”
Chopra also suggested that the decision to declare the innings may have been made by the team management, and not solely by Dravid. “Rahul did call, but Dada (Ganguly) was part of the dressing room that day too,” said Chopra. “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.”
Dravid later admitted that he would not have declared had he known the match would end within four days. However, Chopra believes that Dravid’s decision was made with the best intentions. “With Rahul, it is possible that in heat of the moment, you agree or disagree,” said Chopra. “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.”
The Multan Declaration remains a significant moment of tension between Dravid and Tendulkar in the minds of fans. It highlights the complexities of captaincy and the challenges of balancing individual aspirations with team goals.
