The Duniyah Cricket Blog

When Virender Sehwag’s IPL Franchise decided to name themselves the Delhi Daredevils, they could not have chosen a more appropriate description of their captain.  Sehwag’s swashbuckling style has made him both a hero and a zero in his career and has infuriated opponents and teammates alike.  One week ago Geoffrey Boycott described him as talented but brainless after a reckless dismissal but a magnificent 201* won Sehwag the Man of the Match award in the subsequent Test.  This type of contradiction has been always been a part of Viru’s career but he is looking to become more consistent as he is now the 2nd top run scorer in Test cricket in 2008.

Coming from a humble background in the outskirts of Delhi, Sehwag and his mother recognised at a young age that whatever he lacked in academic talent he made up for in cricketing ability.  Instead of following his father into the family business, he developed his batting style on the streets of Najafgarh and consciously attempted to bat like Sachin Tendulkar.  It is the uncomplexity of Sehwag’s style that has made neutrals say that he is “great to watch” with Sehwag himself saying “If the ball is there for hitting then I hit it. That’s it, nothing else.” He made his big breakthrough for India in 2001 where he scored his first ODI Century against New Zealand and his first Test century against South Africa (on debut) overshadowing the bigger names in the Indian line-up.  From this point, Viru has retained the trademark clean-hitting, free-swinging approach as well as a lack of footwork.

After being promoted up the order, Sehwag has become one of the best Indian openers ever averaging over 50 in Test match cricket.  He has also become famous for scoring big centuries with the last 10 of his centuries all being over 150.  These innings are characterised by the ‘zone’ that he can get himself into where he is seeing the ball big and is able to fearlessly hammer the ball wherever he pleases without conceding any chances.  Sehwag has scored hundreds all over the world including in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand so the accusation by some critics that he is a flat track bully cannot be valid.  In one instance this year Sehwag scored 319 against South Africa including over 250 in a single day and over 100 in one session.  The magnificent strokeplay means his innings in Test cricket are often more entertaining than many others batting in ODIs and even T20.

Video: Triple Century against SA

All this begs the question: Why is it that when most experts talk of greatness in the Indian batting line-up they rarely mention Sehwag’s name?  Viru’s average is nearly 10 runs more than Sourav Ganguly, he has scored more hundreds than VVS Laxman and his strike rate overshadows nearly every batsman in world cricket …. yet Viru was saddened to find no county even offered to sign him during 2007.  Some of it has to do with the age gap that separates him from those in India’s middle order - Sehwag has been thought of as a careless protege for much of his career while the likes of Laxman seem to carry an air of sophistication.  There is also the notion that due to the extravagant approach, Sehwag’s shots must carry risk and his technical flaws ensure he requires luck to succeed.  Surely though it is naive to say someone who averages over 50 in Test cricket is lucky?  Another reason for his lack of recognition is the myth that Sehwag is inconsistent.  That statement is only true when completed with in ODIs. In Test cricket, Sehwag averages one century every 4 matches and in his worst run of form ever, he went 5 matches without a 50.  By comparison, Sachin Tendulkar has once gone 8 matches without a 50.

However it would be wrong to say every criticism of Sehwag is a myth - he does have his failings like everyone else.  Firstly there are modes of dismissal.  It is the great number of soft dismissals caused by a lack of patience to score at a strike rate of 100 rather than 150 which has brought about the valid criticisms of inconsistency in ODIs.  Therefore it is no wonder that the likes of Sunil Gavaskar have questioned Sehwag’s attitude.  There are also times when bowlers manage to expose Sehwag’s technical flaws with Mohammad Asif being the famous example.  Finally there is also the fact that Sehwag is not yet 30 even though his hair growth would indicate otherwise.  Most players are not labelled greats until they pass 30 and in Sehwag’s case, he may still be yet to hit his prime.

Video: Asif to Sehwag

Video: Ridiculous Sehwag Dismissal

When cricket experts talk of great opening batsmen, they speak of Geoffrey Boycott and Sunil Gavaskar among others.  Their techniques were in a supreme class which makes it very difficult for traditionalists to compare them to today’s batsmen like Sehwag.  What we must remember is that class can come in many styles and forms.  Sehwag does not need hi tech analysis of his technique, indeed that may only hinder him.  All he needs is to focus on hitting the ball and being patient enough to wait for the correct ball to hit.  Albert Einstein once said “Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction.” For all the inadequacies and recklessness in ODIs, Sehwag will always be remembered by me as a genius because on one particular day in Multan and another particular day in Chennai, he stood above Sir Don Bradman.

Video: The Sultan of Multan