Rahul Dravid got his name inscribed in the list of most ruthless captains in Test history when he declared India's first innings closed at 675 for 5 in Multan on Monday with Sachin Tendulkar just six runs away from what would have been his second double hundred in successive Tests and fourth overall.
Not many captains have shown the courage to declare their team's innings closed with one of their batsmen nearing a major personal milestone.
Interestingly, at least on three occasions the batsman to suffer could not complain of injustice because he was himself the captain making the decision. Peter May in 1957, Sunil Gavaskar in 1978-79, and Imran Khan in 1991-92 were the victims of their own decisions.
Who was the most ruthless captain of all? This honour should go to either the West Indian Gerry Alexander (1959-60) or Englishman Mike Atherton (1994-95). But Imran Khan (1982-83) and Rahul Dravid are not very far behind either.
The following table lists all such instances.
Missed a triple hundred:
| Score | Batsman | For | Vs | Venue | Series | Captain | Team total | Result |
| 285* | P B H May | Eng | WI | Birmingham | 1957 | PBH May | 583-4 | Draw |
| 280* | Javed Miandad | Pak | Ind | Hyderabad | 1982-83 | Imran Khan | 581-3 | Won |
Missed a double hundred:
| Score | Batsman | For | Vs | Venue | Series | Captain | Team total | Result |
| 197* | F M M Worrell | WI | Eng | Bridgetown | 1959-60 | F C M Alexander | 563-8 | Drawn |
| 194* | S R Tendulkar | Ind | Pak | Multan | 2003-04 |
R S Dravid |
675-5 | In Progress |
| 189* | J H Kallis | SA | Zim | Bulawayo | 2001-02 | S M Pollock | 519-8 | Drawn |
| 183* | A Flower | Zim | Ind | Delhi | 2000-01 | H H Streak | 422-9 | Lost |
| 182* | C P Mead | Eng | Aus | The Oval | 1921 | L H Tennyson | 403-8 | Drawn |
| 182* | S M Gavaskar | Ind | WI | Calcutta | 1978-79 | S M Gavaskar | 361-1 | Drawn |
| 182* | I V A Richards | WI | Eng | Bridgetown | 1980-81 | C H Lloyd | 379-7 | Won |
Missed a hundred:
| Score | Batsman | For | Vs | Venue | Series | Captain | Team total | Result |
| 98* | G A Hick | Eng | Aus | Sydney | 1994-95 | M A Atherton | 255-2 | Drawn |
| 93* | Imran Khan | Pak | SL | Sialkot | 1991-92 | Imran Khan | 423-5 | Drawn |
| 92* | R W Marsh | Aus | Eng | Melbourne | 1970-71 | W M Lawry | 493-9 | Drawn |
| 91* | R S Dravid | Ind | Aus | Sydney | 2003-04 | S C Ganguly | 211-2 | Drawn |
| 90* | E de C Weekes | WI | Eng | Kingston | 1953-54 | J B Stollmeyer | 209-6 | Won |
