Virender Sehwag, India’s greatest opening batsman, went through a career crisis during the series against Australia in 2007-08. Sidelined from the India ODI team by then-captain MS Dhoni, Sehwag was at a turning point.
Benching him for almost six months, along with not being in good form, made Sehwag think of finishing his One-Day International (ODI) career. But it was a timely intervention by Sachin Tendulkar that stopped Sehwag from rushing into a decision that could have cut his golden career short.
Struggles That Led to Sehwag’s Emotional Crisis
Before his being dropped, Sehwag’s form had been disappointing. In his previous five ODIs, he had scored only 81 runs, with a highest of 33. The poor run of form, along with being dropped from the team, brought Sehwag to his lowest point, where he started to doubt himself in ODIs. His confidence was dented, and he believed that he could be nearing the end of his career in the format.
“In the 2007-08 series against Australia, I played the first three matches and then MS Dhoni dropped me from the side. I wasn’t picked for a while after that. Then I felt that if I can’t be a part of the playing XI, then there is no point in playing ODI cricket,” Sehwag said.
Sachin Tendulkar’s Words of Wisdom
Tendulkar, who had seen his own share of ups and downs and lean times in his life, gave Sehwag a measure of advice and sense. Reminding Sehwag of his own dark days in the late 1990s, when he too had thought of leaving cricket, Tendulkar told him not to take any impulsive decisions during the moment of crisis.
“Then I went to Tendulkar and said, ‘I am thinking of retiring from ODIs’. He said, ‘No, I went through a similar phase in 1999-2000, where I felt I should leave cricket. But that phase came and went. So, you are going through a trough, but it will pass. Don’t make any decision when you are emotional. Give yourself some time and 1-2 series, and then take a call.’
“When that series ended, I played in the next series and made a lot of runs. I played the 2011 World Cup and we won the World Cup as well.”
Virender Sehwag’s Comeback: Under the Guidance of Sachin Tendulkar
Plucking the heart from Tendulkar’s words of advice, Sehwag made a comeback to international cricket with full determination. His form quickly revived. In the next series, Sehwag regained his rhythm and made a huge difference to India’s triumph. Notably, he played an important role in India’s historic World Cup victory in 2011, proving himself one of the most destructive ODI openers ever.
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Sehwag’s return to form was ushered in by his spectacular run in the Kitply Cup, where he amassed 150 runs, including two fifties. This incredible turnaround not just salvaged his ODI career but also contributed toward taking India to one of their most historic victories in cricket history.
Legacy of Sehwag’s ODI Career
Owing to the timely guidance of Sachin Tendulkar, Sehwag regained his place in the Indian team and had an extremely prosperous tenure. He accumulated 8,273 runs in 251 ODIs, with 15 centuries to his credit, before retiring from ODIs in 2013.
Tendulkar’s intervention in advising Sehwag through one of the most challenging phases of his life is evidence of the friendship and guidance that prevailed between the two cricket giants.
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