Virender Sehwag is one of the best things that occurred to Indian cricket. The cult of his followers is ever growing with Srilankan Tilakaratne Dilshan also joining saying that Viru’s upper cut is a game changing shot. Incidentally, Pepsico is on Ad campaign for the ICC WC celebrating the occasion with a series of ad films. Dhoni’s helicopter shot, Bhaji’s doosra, Pietersen’s palti alongside Najafgarh ka Nawab’s upper cut designated by them as ‘upar cut’. In the Advt Ranbir is shown teaching Sehwag a bollywood dance routine, where Viru fails but picks it rightly on a raising delivery to send it soaring over the fence over point.
Touted as one unorthodox, Viru has had greater success in Tests having more than 7600 runs with two three hundreds to his credit. In the inaugural match of the present version, it was Sehwag all way as he galloped to 175 and getting his 22nd Man of the Match. His is the highest against Bangladesh East Africa on the opening day of the inaugural WC in 1975.
The Nawab of Najafgarh is known to be a calm face and is an effective right arm off spin bowler. He was honoured as Wisden Leading Cricketer of the World in 2008 and retained the award in 2009. Holds the record of the fastest triple century – 300 off only 278 balls.
In some ways, the fortune of winning the cup hinges on him as he when he gets going, nothing else matter and batting looks simple and easy. He can also get out in innovative ways and here is an article shared by me on 17th Feb 2007 which makes an interesting reading even now.
Regards – S. Sampathkumar.
“ When the result is an Indian Victory – Nothing else is seen “
In the 4th ODI against Sri Lanka at Visakhapatnam on 17th Feb 2007, Indians won by 7 wickets with 36 balls remaining which naturally brought cheer to the die hard Indian Fan.
Despite the win, there was something appalling for the ardent cricket admirer. Something bizarre – A run out. In the 1980s during an One dayer down under, the young Kapil Dev was appreciated for the manner he charged between the wickets, the bat rhythmically changing from right to left hand while nearing the bowler’s crease and for the remarkable ease with which he turned back for completing the second run. Kapil was one who was purely instinctive and was not a coaching camp product.
Now a days, the cricketers go through the grind, in pre match practices and conditioning camps, assisted by various technical experts. We have a Great Coach, a thinking genius who imparts various nuances of the game. In today's modern game, effective running between the wickets is of utmost importance. Scoring rates have risen linearly over the last few decades. This doesn't only have to do with the mentality of hitting more big shots, but also running at the smallest opportunity presented. The batsman running to the danger end should be the one to be entirely sure of making it to be able to go forward with the run. Grounding the bat, when reaching the crease is simply the very basic.
On Saturday, something fundamentally went wrong…………….. Quite often, we have seen batsmen getting run out. The Law states :
(a) Either batsman is out Run out, if at any time while the ball is in play
(i) he is out of his ground and (ii) his wicket is fairly put down by the opposing side.
Viru is a great player with excellent record.
Class | Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest | Averag | St. rate | 100s |
Tests | 52 | 87 | 4155 | 309 | 49.46 | 75.75 | 12 |
ODIs | 167 | 162 | 4833 | 130 | 31.18 | 96.04 | 7 |
At Vizag, Score card would read : Sehwag run out (Bandara / Sangakkara) for 46: the man back in the team but still struggling to ensure his place., was making most of the width offered, he juddered a few boundaries square of the wicket. He seemingly had rediscovered his silken touch in a 43 ball 46 when the imponderable happened. The way Sehwag ran could perhaps be described as . Sleepwalking to his own demise. The ardent fan was most disappointed with the senseless dismissal.
The slinger Lasith Malinga bowled short and outside off stump, Sehwag freed his arm and ball flew to thirdman. Sehwag ambled across – when a good throw from third man thuddered into the gloves of Sangakkara. Sehwag was already near the crease, walking yet , totally unfazed to the scene of action, not caring to reach the safety of the crease at all – though standing very close to it. The agile Sangakkara spotted an opportunity, removed his glove – with batsmen sort of covering the stumps, lobbed a throw (almost a gentle leg spin). Sehwag was almost standing on the crease but still not yet in safety. The ball flew past crashing on the timber. A n d h e I s O…U…T
A very bizarre dismissal indeed ! But Are lessons being learnt ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Die hard fan
PS: Read the caption again - no paper had this piece
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