Wiaan Mulder Walked Away from 400. How Many Indian Batters Would’ve Done the Same?

In an era where even free Wi-Fi is hard to resist, Wiaan Mulder casually turned his back on cricketing immortality. On a sunny Monday at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, South Africa’s Mulder was unbeaten on 367. The pitch? As flat as your uncle’s WhatsApp forwards. Zimbabwe’s bowlers? Running on fumes. Time? He had all of it. Records? Just a flick away.

And then, in what can only be described as cricket’s version of a plot twist, Mulder looked at the scoreboard, nodded at destiny, and declared the innings.

Yes, declared. At 367*. Just 34 runs shy of Brian Lara’s iconic 400 — the highest individual score in Test cricket.

He walked away from the record books… to go bowl.

Let that sink in.

In a sport where players have been known to retire hurt and return later just to chase a milestone, Mulder’s move was unheard of. It was graceful. It was unselfish. It was… something most fans would never associate with modern-day cricket.

And now comes the question: Would any Indian batter have done the same?

Let’s be honest. India doesn’t just play cricket. India lives cricket. A fifty is celebrated like a festival. A century? That’s breaking news. When Sachin Tendulkar hit his 100th international century—even in a match India lost—we partied like we’d won the World Cup. So the idea of voluntarily walking away from history? That’s a tough sell.

But let’s give credit where it’s due. Not every Indian batter is a stat-chasing machine.

Kohli, the Anti-Stat Chaser

Take Virat Kohli. In 2019, he was on 254 not out against South Africa. He had time, rhythm, and the opposition in his control. A triple hundred was there for the taking. But he declared. No drama. Just typical Kohli: job done, let’s go win the game.

For someone so often painted as obsessed with records, it was a subtle reminder that he was always more about the team than the timeline. Never mind the fact that he stepped away from Tests before even reaching 10,000 runs.

MS Dhoni: The Master of Selflessness

And then there’s MS Dhoni. If there was ever a poster boy for “team before self,” it was him. In the 2014 T20 World Cup semi-final, Dhoni could have finished the match, but he let Virat Kohli hit the winning runs instead. He retired quietly during a Test series, robbing fans of a grand farewell—but in his mind, the team came first.

In his world, milestones were distractions. Mission accomplished was all that mattered.

Dravid’s Dilemma: The Multan Declaration

Let’s not forget the famous Multan Declaration in 2004, when Rahul Dravid declared the innings while Tendulkar was on 194. The cricketing world has never really moved on. Ask any Mumbaikar what they think about Multan, and they’ll give you a look sharper than a Wasim Akram inswinger.

Even Tendulkar admitted later he was disappointed. But Dravid did what Mulder did: he made a tough call in the team’s interest.

The only difference? Dravid was crucified. Mulder is being celebrated.

The Milestone Obsession

Let’s be fair — milestones in Indian cricket aren’t just stats. They’re moments. They’re memories. They’re a way for fans to connect, rejoice, and relive. We don’t just count runs; we relive each one of them on Star Sports reruns.

When Tendulkar scored 200* in ODIs, it became a national celebration. Gavaskar reaching 10,000 runs? Legendary. Sehwag’s triple tons? Iconic. We want our players to break records because we break into song and dance when they do.

So, to expect an Indian batter to walk away from 400, when it’s not just a number but a legacy, feels… unlikely.

But There Have Been Exceptions

There have been glimpses. Kohli. Dhoni. Dravid. Even Cheteshwar Pujara, known for his monk-like patience, once declared an innings in a Ranji match as captain while unbeaten on 352. He didn’t need 400. He needed a win.

So yes, there are a few Mulders in Indian cricket. Just not many.

Mulder’s Move: Beautifully Ridiculous

To see someone, on captaincy debut no less, bat like a dream and then step away from rewriting history is as baffling as it is beautiful.

In today’s era of four-day Tests and aggressive declarations, we may never see anyone get this close to Lara’s 400 again. And if they do, chances are they won’t give it up.

Mulder’s decision will divide opinion. Some will call it foolish. Others, heroic. But it will never be forgotten.

Imagine an Indian batter doing that. Twitter would explode. #WhyMulderWhy would trend. Uncles at chai stalls would debate it for weeks. WhatsApp forwards would become think-pieces.

But sometimes, cricket needs stories like this. Where a player says, “That’s enough. Let’s go win this.”

Because in a game of centuries, it’s often selflessness that leaves the most lasting impression.

IT.