For those who have begun watching India vs Pakistan cricket only in recent times, it can be easy to assume that matches between the two sides have always been dominated by politics, hostility, aggression from crowd, and the absence of even basic sporting courtesies.While there have always been some kind of political context to their encounters, and an “at your face” approach whenever both sides faced each other, there was some kind of respect for the players and the great game that they were playing, to not let politics or jingoism take over the sport. Perhaps nothing captures it better than the Chennai Test of 1999, which India lost, after a batting masterclass by Sachin Tendulkar. The political atmosphere was high then, too. Pakistan arrived in India for the first Test between the two arch-rivals in nine years, but the venue for the first match of the series had to be changed as, weeks before the series was set to kick off, some extremists dug up the pitch at the Firoz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi, the original venue for the first Test. Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, which originally was due to host the second Test, was then selected to host the first match as venues for the first and second Test matches were swapped. The outrage by some fringe extremist groups continued, and against this backdrop, the first Test of the series began on January 28, 1999, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The Stadium was guarded by 3,000 police and military officials. Pakistan captain Wasim Akram won the toss and opted to bat first as India handed Sadagoppan Ramesh his Test debut. Pakistan were once struggling at 91-5 as Kumble and Srinath sent Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afridi, Ijaz, Inzamam, and Saleem Malik back to pavillion. However, Moin Khan (60) and Mohammad Yousuf (53) fought back to guide the visitors to a first innings score of 238.Debutant Ramesh and VVS Laxman put on a brisk 48 for India on the evening of day one, but both were dismissed by Wasim Akram within half an hour of play resuming. Then Saqlain Mushtaq took the first of his 20 wickets in this series when his tantalising length accounted for Tendulkar; the batsman dashed down the wicket, mis-hit and scooped a catch to backward point for a third-ball duck. But Dravid and Ganguly helped India towards a narrow 16-run lead before the spinners finished them off.By the end of Day 2, Pakistan were 34/1 and day three belonged to Shahid Afridi as he struck 141 off 191 balls, hitting 21 fours and three sixes. He got ample support from Inzamam ul-Haq (51), and Saleem Malik (32) as Pakistan finished their second innings at 286. Venkatesh Prasad took 6 wickets in the innings as India were set the target of 271 to chase in the fourth innings on a tough Chennai pitch.India finished day 3 at 40/2, with both openers, Ramesh and Laxman, back in the hut. On the day 4 morning, Akram removed Dravid thanks to an absolute peach of a delivery. Then Saqlain Mushtaq got the better of India captain Mohammad Azharuddin (5) and Sourav Ganguly (2). At 82 for 5 before lunch on the fourth day, 271 looked distant for India, and a defeat inevitable. But Sachin Tendulkar stood firm and tall, despite battling a back injury.Saqlain Mushtaq and Wasim bowled in tandem after lunch. Facing them, Tendulkar and Mongia. India didn’t lose a wicket between lunch and Tea. Pakistan took the new ball in the third session with 95 needed and Sachin and Mongia still on the wicket for India. Tendulkar’s back had “all but given up” on him. The next five overs brought 33.
India were still 53 short when Mongia slogged Wasim across the line and got the top edge, ball went straight to Waqar Younis at covers. Still, Tendulkar kept going, despite a back strain. At 254 for 6 on the day 4 afternoon, India needed only 17 to win with Tendulkar still at the crease, batting at 136 off 273 balls. But then he mistimed a lofted drive off Saqlain Mushtaq, and Wasim Akram caught him at mid-off. Commentator Harsha Bhogle called it on air: “Oh dear… he’s got the leading edge… man’s under it… it’s taken… what have we got here… Sachin Tendulkar’s knocked on the door… it’s still closed…”Tendulkar walked out of the ground after a masterful innings, and with him went India’s hope as Wasim Akram and Saqlain Mushtaq ran through India’s lower order, taking the last 3 wickets for just 4 runs. India were out for 258, and Pakistan clinched a historic victory by 12 runs. Saqlain Mushtaq took 10 wickets in the match.Pakistani players bowed to the ground in prayer and embarked on a lap of honour. Instead of hostility, they were met with a standing ovation from the Chennai crowd.
Bhogle, on air, said he had never seen “a stronger statement in favour of sport than this.” “We’ve had a fascinating game of cricket, but this is the best sight you will see anywhere in the world. Pakistan are going on a victory lap and the crowd here in Chennai are standing up and applauding them. If you ever wanted to see a victory for sport, here it is on your television screens, in your drawing rooms. Pakistan are taking a victory lap far away from their homeland, here in Chennai in India, and they are getting a rousing reception,” Bhpgle said.“I’ve never seen a stronger statement in sport than this. This crowd has been absolutely fantastic. Pakistan realizes that. There has been no jingoism. The spectators have supported the home team as they must, but they have also appreciated everything that has happened in this match. If this isn’t what sport stands for, I don’t know what is.”The match ended on this day, January 31, in 1999.
