Virender Sehwag has revealed a little-known chapter from his cricketing journey—one the place he got here near retiring from One-Day Internationals after being dropped by then-captain MS Dhoni.
The incident dates again to the 2007–08 Commonwealth Financial institution Sequence in Australia, a tri-nation competitors that includes India, Australia, and Sri Lanka. Sehwag, identified for his fearless strokeplay, endured a lean run, managing simply 81 runs in 5 video games at a median of 16.20, with a highest rating of 33.
“Within the 2007–08 sequence in opposition to Australia, I performed the primary three matches after which MS Dhoni dropped me from the aspect. I wasn’t picked for some time after that,” Sehwag recalled in a dialog with Padamjeet Sehrawat on his Youtube channel. “Then I felt that if I can’t be a part of the taking part in XI, there’s no level in taking part in ODI cricket.”
Sachin Tendulkar’s well timed recommendation saved Virender Sehwag’s profession
Disheartened, Sehwag approached his long-time teammate and shut good friend Sachin Tendulkar for recommendation. The dialog proved career-changing.
“I advised Sachin, ‘I’m pondering of retiring from ODIs.’ He stated, ‘No, I went by an analogous section in 1999–2000 after I felt I ought to go away cricket. However that section got here and went. You’re simply going by a trough, and it’ll move. Don’t make any choice once you’re emotional. Give your self one or two sequence earlier than deciding,’” Sehwag recounted.
Bolstered by Tendulkar’s steerage, Sehwag determined to proceed
Six months later, Sehwag returned with a bang within the Kitply Cup, amassing 150 runs in three matches, together with two half-centuries. That resurgence cemented his spot within the aspect and set the stage for his position in India’s 2011 World Cup triumph, the place he scored 380 runs at a strike fee of 122.58.
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“When that sequence ended, I performed within the subsequent sequence and made quite a lot of runs. I performed the 2011 World Cup and we received the World Cup as effectively,” added Viru.
Sehwag’s ODI profession, which he nearly resulted in 2008, went on to turn into considered one of India’s most interesting. He completed with 8,273 runs in 251 matches, together with 15 centuries, and famously scored 219 in opposition to West Indies—the best particular person ODI rating on the time.
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