Among the legends of the game called cricket, Indian opener Virender Sehwag is in a league of his own. Often called as India's Viv Richards, Sehwag had little respect for bowlers. Even after retirement, he has never been modest about his ability to dominate spinners and medium pacers. He would hum a song and hit bowlers for a six. There is even a video of him singing ‘Tu Jaane Na’ and hitting the bowler for a six.
Before ‘Bazball’ existed, Sehwag had an aggressive approach to Test cricket. Whether the ball is swinging or the pitch has extra bounce, Sehwag did not differentiate and throw his kitchen sink at the ball he found in his zone. In doing so, he earned respect from prominent bowlers for dispatching the ball with disdain.
After bidding goodbye to cricket, his tweets went viral. In his interviews, his opinions seem to have no filter as some of them have even stirred up controversies. His quotes from the commentary box and shows analysing the game often make it to social media and make headlines. If you love his comments, here are five funny moments of the Indian opener off the field.
Why Sehwag didn’t play BBL
In a recent conversation on the Club Prairie Fire Podcast featuring Adam Gilchrist, he said that he was once offered $100,000 dollars to play in the Big Bash League (BBL) but he would spend that much on his holidays itself.
“No! Why? No need. We are rich people, we don’t go to poor countries,” he said.
“I still remember that when I retired from the Indian team, not retired but dropped and was playing IPL, I received an offer to participate in Big Bash. I said that okay how much money you are offering? They said some $100,000. I replied I can spend that much that much money on my holidays,” he added.
Sehwag’s spot-on answer to Kirsten about field placement
Sehwag recalled when former Indian head coach Gary Kirsten asked him what will he do if a bowler sets a certain field to trap him. He explained it with Paul Harris’ example
“Once Gary Kirsten asked me, ‘What would you do if there is a long-off, long-on and deep midwicket?’ I asked, ‘Gary sir, do fielders matter to me?’ He burst out laughing… Let me give an example: I was batting on 291 at Chepauk, against South Africa. I told Paul Harris, ‘Come round the wicket and first ball I’ll hit you for a six.’ He accepted my challenge and the very first ball I hit him for a straight six, and there was a long-off, long-on, deep midwicket and a deep point. I was so tired and he was bowling on the pads and I was getting bored. So rather than spending 10-15 minutes to get to the triple-century I gave him good advice.”
Sehwag makes Pakistan fielders laugh
Sehwag was brutal on the field but funny too. Once, he had a hilarious answer to Shoaib Akhtar challenging him to play the hook shot when he was bowling from around the wicket.
“Yeh bowling kar raha hai ya bheekh maang raha hai? [Is he bowling or begging?]”
When Tendulkar answered Sehwag’s telepathic call
When Akhtar wanted Sehwag to play the pull shot, he pointed to Sachin Tendulkar and asked the Pakistan pacer to bowl short to him. Tendulkar hit Akhtar for a six when Sehwag said to the pacer walking back to his mark “Beta beta hota hai, aur baap baap hota hai!”
When Sehwag didn’t know about India’s legendary all-rounder
Sehwag was always on the attack whether he was batting on zero or 294. Once, he and Rahul Dravid had a chance to break the record of highest opening partnership. They missed it by four runs. Sehwag was unaware of the record’s existence or who Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy were.
“Who is Vinoo Mankad? I don’t know anything about them. I haven’t even heard about them,” he said.
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