Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has revealed he thought of retiring from the ODI format when he was dropped from the playing XI by MS Dhoni in CB tri-series 2007-08 against Australia and Sri Lanka down under. However, Sehwag revealed a conversation with legendary Sachin Tendulkar helped him change his mind.
Sachin told Sehwag to not make a final call on his ODI career while being emotional and wait for a couple of more series. Subsequently, Sehwag was able to get back in form in the next series and also won the 2011 World Cup.
Sehwag played a key role in India’s successful campaign in the 2011 ODI showpiece as he scored 380 runs in eight matches at an average of 47.50 and a blistering strike rate of 122.58.
Sehwag said on Padamjeet Sehrawat YouTube Channel, “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 was no point in my playing ODI cricket.”
“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”.
Meanwhile, Sehwag revealed that the pressure is always there on his son, Aryaveer Sehwag. The former Indian opener has advised his son to play without taking too much pressure.
“Aryaveer will surely have the pressure on him, but I have been teaching him from when he was young that your father’s name would be told to you all the time. That you are Virender Sehwag’s son, that you play like he did, that you don’t play like he did”.
“That pressure will always be on you, but you should not take that pressure. Pressure is something that you give, not take. I have told him he can play the way he wants if he is interested and if he wants to become a cricketer. Things are going well for now. Hope he goes on to play either for India or the Ranji Trophy. He’s working hard. He’s only 15 and he’ll learn a lot in future,” Sehwag added.
Sehwag Jr. is part of the South Delhi Superstarz in the ongoing Delhi Premier League.
