Sehwag: ‘Don’t fiddle with deliveries outside off-stump’

Former India opener Virender Sehwag believes India now only have a 30 per cent chance of bouncing back in the Test series against South Africa.

Sehwag is of the opinion that India should go in with six specialist batsmen and four bowlers in the second Test at Centurion.

Former opener Virender Sehwag reckons that India now only have around “30 percent chance” of making a comeback in the three-Test series against South Africa after losing the opening encounter by 72 runs.

“As of now, it looks like only 30 percent chance is there of making a comeback. It is going to be very tough from now on. Also, the Indian team management should look whether conditions at the Centurion warrant a place for Ravichandran Ashwin,” Sehwag told a television channel on Wednesday.

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Sehwag is of the opinion that India should go in with six specialist batsmen and four bowlers.

“India can go in with an extra batsman in Ajinkya Rahane.

They should also try to go in with four specialist bowlers. If India want to win, Virat and Rohit will need to play a big role,” the dashing opener of yesteryears said.

Sehwag, who hit a hundred on debut in Bloemfontein back in 2001, advised the team to leave as many deliveries outside the off-stump as possible.

“Don’t fiddle with deliveries outside the off-stump will be my advise to the batsmen. Play as straight as possible.

Your ‘go to’ shots should be straight drive and flick. Get prepared to be hurt by some short stuff. Rather than trying to fend off short balls, get prepared to take blows on your body,” was Sehwag’s advise.

“The tennis ball bounce in South Africa means that it will be very difficult for any batsman to get bowled. So one needs to stay positive and try to score runs at the rate of at least three runs per over,” he concluded.