Virender Sehwag's communication style mirrors his fearless batting approach—carefree, a tad aggressive, unfiltered, and genuine.
While this demeanor might come off as arrogance from someone else, the newly inducted member of the ICC Hall of Fame, Class of 2023, carries it with an endearing and authentic charm.
During a conversation with former West Indies bowler Ian Bishop on Tuesday, where Sehwag was welcomed into the ICC Hall of Fame alongside Diana Edulji and Sri Lankan legend Aravinda de Silva, Bishop asked Sehwag about his feelings on the induction. Sehwag responded in his trademark nonchalant manner, "I think I am too late."
The audience burst into laughter, and despite the presence of great former players like Sir Viv Richards, Sehwag's response didn't come off as arrogance. It was quintessentially Sehwag—raw and emotionally charged. Many would agree that there was some truth in his statement, considering the lasting impact the former Indian opener had on all three formats of the game.
As the first Indian cricketer to score a triple hundred, Sehwag shared insights during the chat with Ian Bishop about his first ODI and Test matches, as well as his transition from the middle order to opening the innings in both formats.
Sehwag recounted asking then-skipper Sourav Ganguly to provide in writing that if he failed, he would still get more opportunities in the middle order. He credited Zaheer Khan for suggesting he open the innings after Sehwag's impressive century on a challenging pitch against a West Zone bowling attack that included Zaheer, Ajit Agarkar, and Santosh Saxena.
Contrary to the conventional approach of "watch the ball, play the ball," Sehwag described his cricket philosophy as "see the ball, hit the ball." He acknowledged legendary players like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and VVS Laxman, who followed a different style, and emphasized his determination to be distinct, a factor that kept him from changing his playing style.
Reflecting on his omission from the side around 2007, Sehwag expressed his frustration, noting that despite his triple hundred, he found himself at home watching players score 30-40 runs in matches. He credited Anil Kumble for bringing him back into the team, acknowledging the captain's role in his return.
(With Agency Inputs)
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