Sehwag – good for India, good for cricket
August 1st, 2008 by Michael Jeh in India, Sri LankaIn recent times anyway, it seems that so many of India’s renaissance efforts have come at the hands of the Delhi Daredevil, Virender Sehwag. And daredevil, he is, by name and by nature.
I am writing this post, just as India have lost their first wicket at Galle. Sehwag looks to be in swashbuckling form and Dravid has just joined him. In this sort of form, both Sehwag and Dravid, can there be a bigger contrast in world cricket? Perhaps Gayle and Chanderpaul can match this odd couple.
But I digress; India owes much to Sehwag in recent times for changing their fortunes by fighting fire with fire. It’s almost inconceivable that he lost his spot less than 12 months ago. His value to India cannot be underestimated.
Let’s backtrack to Boxing Day Test in Australia in 2007 and notice the contrast. Inexplicably, India reverted back to a tried and failed formula of trying to stonewall Australia at the top of order and it failed miserably. Dravid and Jaffer’s opening partnership effectively set the tone for the rest of the Test and allowed Australia the chance to play cricket exactly the way they like it – where only one team really tries to win the game.
Fast forward two Tests later to Perth and Sehwag is back in the team, taking the attack back to Lee and Johnson. 29 & 43 are hardly scores to remember but it was the intent and purpose that led the way to a famous away win. A few days later, he was back amongst it at Adelaide, carving out 63 & 151, ensuring that India finished the Tests series on a high, carrying momentum into the VB Series which they duly won. He might not have done much in the VB Finals but the momentum shift he generated in the Tests emboldened Gambhir and Tendulkar. Make no mistake about that.
He’s at it again today, doing things the only way he knows how. Daredevil. Castigated for hooking in Colombo, he has remained true to his instincts and is taking the fight back to the Sri Lankans. No thoughts of conservatism – Sehwag is indeed the talisman that India has relied on recently to turn their fortunes around. He is arguably the batsmen most feared by opposition teams because they know that a few hours of his genius and there’s genuinely a chance that two sides can now win the game.
In the time it has taken me to type these words, Dravid, Tendulkar and Ganguly have all departed, leaving Sehwag to continue the brave fight. I’m either an extremely slow typist or India have had a quick collapse!
Will Sehwag continue to blaze or will he rein in his game and play the percentages? I guess he’ll have to be responsible now but for those of us who still believe in fantasies, let’s hope he sticks to his guns. Better to burn out than fade away…….
August 4th, 2008
sehwag,you are such a good player . keep it this performance.
August 4th, 2008
Sehwag is the real match winner. Only if he scores India wins and that too he scores the runs in double quick time. But unfortunately he is not getting the accolades that are being reserved only for the GANG OF FOUR.
August 4th, 2008
sehwag is good for India
August 5th, 2008
Congratulation Sehwag, keep it up. I’m your great fan from Nepal.i hope u will beat them and win the series.
Go on!
August 6th, 2008
sehwag is good for team india.
August 6th, 2008
I cannot believe Geoffrey Boycott would say something like this about Sehwag:
“He is talented, very talented, but he has no brains”.
I think it’s an incredibly unfair comment - Sehwag knows what his strengths are and he plays to them and more often than not it works, spectacularly. That’s smart cricket in my eyes.
August 8th, 2008
Harjeet, I could not agree more with you. You’d never find Boycott caught hooking because he’d never play the shot but that’s not Sehwag’s style. His great beauty is that he backs his instincts and keeps playing naturally, without fear. It may not be as conservative as Boycott but who would you rather watch? Boycott or Sehwag? Sehwag wins games, Boycott was a master at saving them.
I’m not decrying Boycott’s record or his skill. He played his way and good on him. But imagine how boring cricket would be if Boycott clones were everywhere! Cricket needs all types of players and Sehwag is one of the gems.
August 10th, 2008
I’d go far enough to call Sehwag the most feared batsman in world cricket right now.
In tests of course
August 10th, 2008
sehwag you are a very bad batsman.
August 11th, 2008
Can’t argue with you JT. In that sort of form, he’s impossible to bowl to because he scores in strange places. Fast hands and supple wrists sends the ball flying to unconventional places. I’ve always thought deep cover or third man might get a catch when Sehwag is flying but I’m sure clever captains have tried that and failed.
Hayden can be imposing when he’s dominating the crease area like he does. That must be pretty fearsome. Chris Gayle can be unbelievably fearsome but he’s not that consistent lately is he? Yes, Sehwag is having a bit of a purple patch but perhaps he too is almost past his best. Maybe he is atop the mountain now and will gently start losing his touch. Gambhir looks a fine player though.
August 14th, 2008
Not a single Cricketer reach to magical triple ton thrice. But Sehwag is the one and only god gifted player who will do it soon by his natural talent.
August 14th, 2008
i am not agree with u furqan. sehwag is best batsmen in the world and he is doing pretty good in one dayer and test matchs. there is no one who can play like him. its very good noe coz he found a very good partner gambir. both them are young and have talent to play a good cricket all the time . india no need to worry about anything till sehwag and gambir are on the crease.
August 15th, 2008
sehwag is the most fearful batsmen of the world.
August 16th, 2008
sehwag i am your great fan n i look to watch your bat thundering.
August 16th, 2008
he can achieve the world record,if he is contious,when he is dangerous.
August 17th, 2008
hey viru i am a great fan of u and i dont miss any match of even when i had my tenth board exam
I LOVE U VIRU…………..
YOURS GREAT FAN HITESH P JAIN
August 21st, 2008
He will be the most prominent batsman for India in future
August 21st, 2008
He is one of the best batsman we have ever seen, and he is going to be the biggest assets for India in coming time.
August 23rd, 2008
sehwag is good
August 29th, 2008
sehwag is one of the bst plyers among all players in the wrld.he needs to play only with aggression.
August 29th, 2008
’sehwag’ is the best ‘east or best shewag is the best for India
September 19th, 2008
sehwag you are an awsum player ………..