Wreck-it Sehwag - The unlikely milestone

The Nawab will get to another century

It’s simply incredible that Virender Sehwag is going to play his 100th Test at Mumbai tomorrow. Everything about him suggests that he should have never made it this far. Throughout his career, we have heard about his lack of footwork, his careless dismissals, the laconic attitude, and refusal to change his game according to the situation. Any other cricketer with those attributes would have never survived past 10 Tests; but here he is – the Nawab of Najafgarh, on the cusp of a highly cherished milestone.

In 99 Tests, Sehwag has scored 8448 runs with 23 tons and 32 fifties at an average of 50.89 and a SR of 82. There are quite a few batsmen around with similar stats, except on the strike rate. Throughout his career, he has never compromised on quick starts and has paved many a way for an Indian victory. By doing that on a consistent basis and still establishing a fine career, he has shattered the myth that an opener’s role is to just see off the new ball and hang in there as long as he can. That will always be his legacy and it is a mighty one to have.

He has played many a memorable knock (think 293 at Mumbai 2009, 201 at Galle 2008, 195 at Melbourne 2003), but for me, the best Sehwag innings was his very first, against a rampaging South African attack consisting of Pollock, Hayward, Kallis and Ntini on a tricky Bloemfontein pitch in 2001. A typical innings from a batting position where he soon moved out of, it consisted of all his trademarks – free-flowing boundaries regardless of the team position included. Soon, he moved to the top of the order and made it his own position. The fast-paced knocks never abated, and he remains as one of those rare batsmen who don’t mould their game with advancing age. Whether that is good or not, is a matter of individual opinion.

Of late, he has not been in the best form, and there have been calls by a lot of people (including me!) to drop him from the team if his failures continue in the ongoing series; but going by the way he batted in both innings, he is far from done yet. More importantly, he has shown signs that he does work on his game seriously and doesn’t take his place for granted.

Still, bigger challenges await. A tour of South Africa looms on the horizon, which presents an ideal opportunity for him to prove that he still has the game to succeed overseas. As unlikely as it may seem now, remember that very few would have expected him to play 100 Tests when they chanced upon him in his early days. As he is a fan of inspirational quotes, Sehwag will surely approve the following one.

“Nothing is predestined: The obstacles of your past can become the gateways that lead to new beginnings.” - Ralph Blum