Shivam Dube
of Chennai Super Kings was left stranded on 96 runs as he batted against Royal
Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League. His partnership with veteran
opener Robin Uthappa was almost the sole reason for CSK’s win. The pair stitched the second-highest partnership of 165 runs for any wicket for CSK and also the highest third-wicket stand in IPL history as CSK raced away to a massive total of 216/4 in the 20 overs. The 28-year-old reached
the figure in just 46 balls. When Dube failed to hit a six off the final ball
of the innings, he looked to the heavens, visibly distraught.

Taking
the example of batting great Sachin Tendulkar, former
India opener Virender Sehwag was of the opinion that Dube’s innings was nothing
less than a century. Even Tendulkar, who achieved 100 centuries in international
cricket, understood that winning a match is far more important than striking a
century.

Sehwag
was on Cricbuzz along with former India fast bowler RP Singh as part of the
panel. “If he scored a century and the team lost, then? That
happens so many times, players make a century, but the team loses,” said Sehwag.

Singh then recalled Tendulkar making a
century in a match that India eventually lost. Sehwag added Tendulkar’s
reaction after being removed on 85 against Pakistan in the 2011 World Cup
semi-final.

“I was
also part of that match and so many other matches. In fact, Paaji (Tendulkar)
himself told us. It was the semi-final against Pakistan, and he was dismissed
in the 80s. When he came to the dressing he laughed slightly. I asked why he
was laughing, he got out. He said, ‘Good that I didn’t make a century. Who
knows we could lose the game’,” mentioned Sehwag. Tendulkar was named ‘player of the match’
after India won the game by 29 runs.

Sehwag
added – “He is also human. He understands that it is winning that matters and
not the century. And this is coming from a player who has scored 100
international centuries. So, I would say that his (Dube’s) 95 is equivalent to
a century.”