Virender Sehwag, the name surely will send shivers across the Pakistan and Australia because he has always performed at his best against these teams. It will not be an understatement to state that he revolutionised how Test cricket must be played. Atleast from the perspective of an Indian. Never before this country had someone of the calibre of Sehwag who could launch into an attack on the opposition with relish. Some might say that Srikkanth used to do the same during his playing days but in comparison to Sehwag, he pales into insignificance. The sheer impact of a Sehwag innings must be seen to be felt. He demolishes the opposition into oblivion. After Gavaskar, India finally had an opener who was fearless. He never really cared about his own records. Virender Sehwag a batsman unlike any other.
The confidence and self-belief that Sehwag displayed on the pitch was simply incredible. No matter the reputation of the bowler or the pace and guile of the bowler had ever bothered him. If he feels like hitting a delivery, he will do that. Gavaskar is quite famous for advocating giving the first hour to the bowler so that the next 5 hours becomes his. Sehwag was the exact opposite. He doesn’t believe in giving the first hour to the bowler. It was because of this approach, he has played some blinders at the Test arena.
Hardly the batsman expected to score 300
Of all the Indian batsmen, if someone had to score a triple hundred, Indians would have picked Gavaskar or Tendulkar or Dravid or Kohli. None would have picked Sehwag. For we were all under the impression that to score 300, you need immense application, great concentration and complete temperament but Sehwag proved that alongwith the above, you need to score quickly. Laxman in his auto-biography writes that when Sehwag made his debut, which was after his 281, Sehwag told him that he will be the first Indian to score a 300. Laxman was really baffled at his audacity. Later on, after Sehwag became the first Indian to score more than 300, he told Laxman that to score 300, one will have to play lot of shots. The attitude of Sehwag was something that cannot be measured in terms of runs.
For some reason, he always reserved his best for the good teams of his time. Australia & Pakistan. India had never won a series in Pakistan. They were on a high after the 2001 series win over Australia. The team then went to Pakistan for a 3 Test series. Pakistan on their home soil is always a tough opponent. If it is India, then they really unite and fight as one. The onslaught at Multan against the ferocious pace of Shoaib Akhtar and Sami, it was a treat to watch. None was spared. Saqlain Mushtaq as dealt with easily. That one innings paved the way for India to win the series for the first time ever. Years later, he repeated that feat with another mega innings in the company of Rahul Dravid.
Spinners never really bothered Sehwag
Sehwag always had a certain amount of disdain for the spinners. It could be Muralitharan or Saqlain or Warne. He never was bothered by what they have accomplished. He always played the ball rather than the bowler. It brought perhaps his one of the 3 best innings in Sri Lanka. The entire Indian batsmen, including the famed quartet of Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman struggled against the guile of Murali and the mystery of Ajantha Mendis. However, they were unable to conquer Sehwag. He took them to the tune of 201 runs which paved the way for an Indian win. It was down and purely to Sehwag that India weren’t whitewashed in that series.
Failure in ODI
Sehwag’s less than optimal performance in ODI was a big surprise. Everyone thought that ODI was his natural format and that he will be a goliath in that format but to everyone’s surprise, his prospered in Test cricket but was below average in ODI. Rishabh Pant is in similar situation in the current team. The shots that will fetch him four runs in Test cricket, with fielders positioned close to the batsmen for wickets, could fetch only a run or two in ODI. That seriously frustrated Sehwag who wanted to get going. In an effort to score more and quickly, he perished easily. Perhaps, if only he had restrained himself, he could have been as successful in ODIs as he was in Tests.
None for records
The one great thing about Sehwag and for which Indians will always be indebted, was his unwillingness to play for records or for any milestone. Even when he became the first Indian to score a 300, he reached that landmark with a 6. Anyone in his place, would have just nudged the ball for singles. When he had the chance to become the first cricketer to score 3 triple hundreds, he didn’t care and tried to get that landmark with a 6. Someone who is least bothered about personal milestones will be able to bat like that.
Another facet of his game
If one thought that Sehwag was all aggression, he showed the other facet of his game in the 2007 series in Australia. The series will be remembered for the acrimony between the teams. The Symonds – Harbhajan problem, Australians claiming wickets of bump balls, Steve Bucknor’s horrendous umpiring till Kumble’s echoing the immortal words of Bill Woodfull during the Bodyline series, “only one team was playing within the spirit of the game”. Right after this, India won famously, at Perth but the series was still alive till the last game at Adelaide. India did not win that Test but it was Sehwag who played an innings that was so out of character. He stayed at the wicket for 6 hours, faced 236 deliveries and scored just over 150. It showed how he can overcome his instincts.
It was really a pity that Sehwag wasn’t able to show this much restraint later in his career when he was hardly able to buy a run. His reflexes had slowed down and his eyesight was failing him. If only he had understood that and changed his approach, even about 20%, he would have scored runs though without the characteristic flourish.
Wrapping up Virender Sehwag a batsman unlike any other
It really is a shame that Sehwag, who must be bracketed alongwith the likes of Gavaskar, Dravid, Kohli and Tendulkar wasn’t able to finish his career with an average in excess of 50. He was that good. Especially in Test cricket. When he retired, his teammates paid him glowing tributes.
“Didn’t see Viv Richards bat in person but I can proudly say I have witnessed Virender Sehwag tearing apart the best bowling attacks,” Dhoni wrote in his twitter handle
“Pleasure to have played with you @virendersehwag bhai. What an amazing career. Thanks for the guidance and the memories. Modern day legend!” Kohli tweeted.
Former India batsman VVS Laxman also tweeted: “Congrats bratha @virendersehwag on a fabulous career. A pure entertainer who gave us sooo much joy . Thanks for all the gr8 memories #LEGEND,” wrote Dhawan.
India off-spinner Ashwin Ravichandran wrote: “Clear thinking and entertainment were things he used as his weapon. A thorough entertainer, congrats on a wonderful career.”