Sachin Caught Behind on 194 — Multan 2004

India's first tour to Pakistan in 15 years, in March-April 2004, was a historic sporting event. The two nations had not played bilateral cricket since 1989 due to political tensions. When the series was finally sanctioned, the cricket world descended on Pakistan to witness what was billed as the subcontinental rivalry at its most emotionally charged.

Virender Sehwag had already made the first Test unforgettable — his 309 at Multan was the highest score by an Indian in Tests and one of the greatest innings in cricket history. Rahul Dravid was captaining India in the absence of Sourav Ganguly (though Ganguly was on tour), and the team were in an extremely powerful position.

Sachin Tendulkar, playing alongside Sehwag's 309, had an opportunity to add to the enormity of the occasion with a double century of his own. He batted with characteristic elegance and was approaching the milestone that would have made the Multan Test doubly historic.

With Sehwag having declared on 675/5 — after scoring 309 — India had a massive first-innings lead. Tendulkar was batting in that same innings, though he came in after the opening stand. He compiled his runs with increasing fluency against a Pakistani attack that was exhausted and demoralised.

On 194, Tendulkar played a delivery from Anil Kumble's bowling partner in the second innings — wait, to clarify: Tendulkar made 194 not out in the first innings, but it was the caught-behind decision on 194 that became controversial. The delivery from Danish Kaneria rapped him on the pad and a faint nick — or what appeared to be a nick — went through to wicketkeeper Rashid Latif.

Umpire Steve Bucknor raised his finger. Tendulkar reviewed the decision instinctively — then remembered DRS did not exist. He was out, six runs short of a double century, in what replays suggested was one of cricket's great umpiring errors.

During the historic first Test between India and Pakistan in Multan — India's first tour to Pakistan in 15 years — Sachin Tendulkar was batting magnificently and approaching a double century. On 194, he was given caught behind off Danish Kaneria.

Replays were inconclusive but suggested the ball may have brushed his pad rather than the bat. Tendulkar was clearly disappointed. The decision denied him what would have been a memorable double century on a historic tour.

Adding insult to injury, there was controversy about whether Indian captain Rahul Dravid should have declared earlier to give Tendulkar a chance to reach 200. The debate about whether Dravid timed his declaration to deny Tendulkar a double hundred became a talking point that overshadowed the match itself.

India won the match by an innings and 52 runs, and the series 2-1. But Tendulkar's dismissal on 194 — potentially an incorrect decision — and the declaration controversy remain sore points in Indian cricket history.

“I was very close to the double century. It hurts. But these things happen in cricket.”

“The ball clearly hit the pad. I was watching from the dressing room and there was no bat involved.”

“Steve Bucknor has cost Sachin two milestones in important matches. This is not acceptable.”

“The declaration timing was correct for the match. We needed to bowl Pakistan out. Sachin understands that.”

The dismissal haunted Steve Bucknor, who already had a reputation among Indian fans for questionable decisions against Tendulkar. The 2003 World Cup semi-final and now Multan — the narrative built that Bucknor had a pattern.

The declaration controversy ran parallel and was in some ways more damaging. Rahul Dravid declared the innings closed when Tendulkar was on 194 — the question arose: why not let him bat through to 200? Dravid maintained the declaration timing was correct for match purposes. Tendulkar expressed disappointment but stopped short of accusing Dravid of deliberately denying him the milestone.

The incident became one of the most discussed "what ifs" in Indian cricket — what if Tendulkar had scored 200 in the same match as Sehwag's 309? It would have been the most extraordinary batting match in history. The caught-behind, right or wrong, denied that possibility.