Who was the first Indian cricketer to score a triple century (300 runs or more) in Test cricket?

Introduction / Context:
A triple century in Test cricket, which means scoring 300 runs or more in a single innings, is one of the rarest and most celebrated milestones for a batsman. Many great cricketers score hundreds and double hundreds, but very few reach or cross the 300 run mark. For Indian cricket, the identity of the first player to achieve this feat is a favourite question in sports examinations and interviews.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The format is Test cricket.
• The required milestone is a triple century, that is 300 runs or more in a single innings.
• The options are Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, V. V. S. Laxman, and Virender Sehwag.
• We assume official Test match records for Indian batsmen.

Concept / Approach:
Virender Sehwag became the first Indian batsman to score a triple century in Test cricket. He achieved this against Pakistan in Multan in 2004, scoring 309 runs. Before Sehwag, legendary batsmen like Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Rahul Dravid had scored many centuries and double centuries but did not cross the 300 mark. V. V. S. Laxman is also known for big scores such as 281 but not a triple century. The correct approach is to remember the phrase Multan Sultan often used to describe Sehwag after this innings and link that with the first Indian triple century record.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that a triple century means scoring at least 300 runs in one Test innings. Step 2: Think of Indian batsmen known for very big individual scores. Names like Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, and V. V. S. Laxman come to mind. Step 3: Remember that Sehwag scored 309 against Pakistan at Multan in 2004, and this innings was widely reported as India first Test triple century. Step 4: Verify that Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, though prolific, did not reach 300 in a single Test innings before Sehwag did. Step 5: Conclude that Virender Sehwag was the first Indian cricketer to achieve a triple century in Tests.

Verification / Alternative check:
Another way to verify is to recall nicknames and historical tags. After the Multan innings, Sehwag was often nicknamed Multan Sultan, and match reports emphasised that he had broken new ground for Indian batting with the first triple century. Later, Sehwag scored another triple century against South Africa in Chennai, which further reinforced his identity as India triple century specialist. No similar first triple century tag is attached to Dravid, Tendulkar, or Laxman, confirming that Sehwag holds this record.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Rahul Dravid: A technically sound batsman with many Test centuries and double centuries, but he never scored 300 or more in a single innings.

Sachin Tendulkar: Holder of numerous Test records and many double centuries, but he never registered a triple century in Tests.

V. V. S. Laxman: Famous for his 281 against Australia at Eden Gardens, but that score, although historic, is still below the triple century mark.

Common Pitfalls:
Many candidates see the words first Indian and big score and instinctively choose Sachin Tendulkar because of his reputation as the highest run scorer in international cricket. Others may think of Rahul Dravid due to his dependability in Tests. The key is to focus on the exact triple century milestone and associate it clearly with Virender Sehwag. Building a mental note that Sehwag 309 at Multan was India first triple century helps avoid confusion in the exam.

Final Answer:
The first Indian cricketer to score a triple century in Test cricket was Virender Sehwag, so Virender Sehwag is the correct answer.