On this day in 2004: Virender Sehwag becomes the first Indian to score a Test triple ton

It was supposed to be a Test match, but Virender Sehwag scored his runs at a strike rate of 82.40. He faced 375 deliveries, and smashed a whirlwind 309 at the top of the order in Multan, as the Pakistan bowlers were decimated by the savagery that Sehwag displayed with the willow. This match was also a historic one from an Indian perspective, as Sehwag became the first Indian batsman to breach the 300-run mark in Test cricket.

The Indian side won the toss and decided to bat first. The Pakistan bowling attack boasted some big names like Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq and Mohammad Sami. But then, Sehwag was in a belligerent mood that day. The Indian opener also shared a mammoth 336 run stand with the iconic Sachin Tendulkar, as India piled up a colossal total of 675/5 on the board in the first innings. Tendulkar, on his part, scored a classy 194*.

In reply, the Pakistan side was bowled out for 407. Even though the likes of Yasir Hameed and skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq scored half-centuries, none of the Pakistan willow wielders could score a century. For India, Irfan Pathan was the star performer with the ball, and picked up 4 wickets, giving away 100 runs.

The Pakistan side was asked to follow on, and their batting line up wilted under pressure. Even though Mohammad Yousuf scored a century, none of the other batsmen could even cross the fifty-run mark, as Pakistan was bowled out for just 216, and India won the match by an innings and 52 runs.

Anil Kumble destroyed the Pakistan batting line up in the second essay. The legendary leg spinner scalped 6 wickets in the second innings, giving away just 72 runs. The ‘Nawab of Najafgarh’ won the Man of the Match award for his scintillating triple hundred.