IN Najafgarh, they all know who Sachin Tendulkar is. But probe more and you discover that they rate the Tendulkar from Mumbai as only second best to their own Tendulkar. The following for Virender Sehwag is to be seen to be believed. His house is now the most famous address in this dusty industrial belt, west of Delhi.
Sehwag has come a very long way from the time he broke window panes in the neighbourhood and forced his family to pack him off to A. N. Sharma, a humble cricket coach in Vikaspuri. The lad had no cricket background but had the talent to produce some explosive cricket, a point which did not escape the keen eye of Sharma. A bond developed between the two that day and it has grown with each passing year.
Even as Sehwag was matching the versatile Tendulkar on the cricket field in Bloemfontein and making history on his Test debut, his performance surprised neither his fans nor the coach. It was on expected lines for them.
The arrival of Sehwag as a wonderful strokemaker may have attracted great media attention but those who know him intimately had always backed this rustic cricketer as one furious belter of the ball. The century on his first Test appearance was just the right boost for Sehwag, who had worked hard the last two years to get back into the national side.
National selector from North, Madan Lal described Sehwag as a "tremendously talented cricketer," and hoped he would not allow the success to affect his progress. "I expect greater deeds from him. His talent was never in doubt but his attitude had to be improved. He is quite a transformed cricketer and I'm very happy for him. This is just the beginning and I see a very bright career for him," remarked Madan Lal.
When he arrived in the Delhi team, Sehwag was known as a big hitter. His short stature was not a handicap at all because he would launch into a charge from the first ball. This aggressive approach was the strong point of his batsmanship. "He hits the ball very hard," his mates would say. And it does not matter what the bowler bowls - seam or spin.
But then hitting the ball hard was not going to be a password for success and Sharma drilled this point into the mind of his pupil. "Stay at the crease," was the piece of advice that Sehwag remembered every time he took guard. There were times when he failed his mates; but there were many other occasions when he laid the opposition low with a flurry of astounding strokes.
Sehwag makes no secret of the fact that he has modelled his game on Tendulkar. "But please don't compare us," he had pleaded on return from Sri Lanka when his century against New Zealand was analysed by every Tom, Dick and Harry. The comparisons with Tendulkar left him deeply embarrassed but then he was hardly at fault. The media had found another hero, even if it meant invading the privacy of his home and pushing him to the point that he began avoiding people.
But Sehwag did not ignore his cricket and was at the 'nets' the day after he returned from Colombo. "He's improved with every international match," Madan Lal pointed out. For four seasons, he had watched Sehwag grow in the Delhi dressing room as a batsman of immense potential. "The problem was he used to throw away his wicket when set," said Madan Lal, who one day took Sehwag aside and told him the value of his wicket. There was a marked change in the youngster's attitude thereafter as bowlers realised that they had to now earn his wicket. Keeping men on the fence, to trap him, was not going to work since Sehwag had changed his style.
From a modest one-day debut against Pakistan in the Pepsi Cup at home two years ago, it has been a tough journey for Sehwag. Former international wicketkeeper and now Delhi coach Surinder Khanna had followed Sehwag's progress with interest. "He was a significant member in the Delhi middle order and I just told him that. He always liked playing his strokes and looked a confident man in the middle. What I liked about him was that he never allowed the situation to dictate," said Khanna. Sehwag also never allowed the opposition to dictate. If the first ball he faced was loose, it had to be hit. A simple but very effective policy.
Today, Sehwag's gait reflects the confidence he has acquired by becoming a regular member of the Indian side. Four seasons ago, he was part of the under-19 team which travelled to South Africa to play the junior World Cup. His mates included Amit Pagnis, Mohammad Kaif, Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Amit Bhandari, Laxmi Ratan Shukla. Sehwag has left them far behind with a highly disciplined schedule that has carried him to the top.
Khanna made a sound observation "he's capable of much better but would do well to improve his footwork against the seamers. At times he plays from the crease. But I know he'll improve. He's learnt from every match and his composure is quite evident. After the century in Sri Lanka, his confidence is so visible."
For those who rated Sehwag a champion batsman only against the spinners, his century against South Africa may have revealed the other side of this batsman. His guts and temperament and his ability to dominate the seamers. Sehwag has never claimed to be a technically accomplished batsman but his shot selection at Bloemfontein was impeccable. Khanna added "he showed remarkable composure when leaving the ball too."
The threat now could stem from within, felt Sehwag's well wishers. "He needs to guard against complacency," observed Bishan Singh Bedi, who played a lasting role in moulding the mental approach of Sehwag towards cricket. Bedi is known to be a hard taskmaster but cricketers do acknowledge his help. Sehwag showed his gratitude when he described Bedi as an ideal cricket guru. "I've learnt a lot from him," confessed Sehwag. The most important lesson being to concentrate on building an innings.
In the opinion of Delhi captain Vijay Dahiya, the century on Test debut by Sehwag should now help the player in realising his potential. "It (talent) was always there but had to be moulded. I was very impressed by the manner in which Sehwag shaped his innings. He didn't touch a single short ball and was not tempted into playing any rash stroke," said Dahiya.
Sehwag is an attacking batsman and it was an attacking innings that he produced against the Proteas. Nine years ago, Pravin Amre had achieved a similar distinction on a lively track at Durban but then was lost to Indian cricket soon because none backed him. Sehwag will have to be protected and the selectors will play the crucial role here. "Did we not back him by asking him to stay on for the Test series," asked Madan Lal.
Credit here ought to be given to Sourav Ganguly, who was the most vocal supporter of Sehwag. The Indian skipper wanted Sehwag to be retained at all costs and the selectors relented after much thought.
Sehwag's innings mirrored his maturity. There was a time when he was dismissed by many in Delhi itself as a batsman just good enough for belting bowlers in the domestic circuit. "I must tell you that criticism brings out the best out of me," he had said last season when he hit big scores in domestic cricket to stake his claims.
That he was talented was accepted by many, but the problem with Sehwag was that he believed batting was all about hitting the ball hard. Often he would get out playing loose shots before Sharma took him to task one day. The dressing down proved a boon as Sehwag began playing the ball on merit. It did not stop him though from slamming nine sixes in one Ranji Trophy innings of 187 against Punjab and the bowler who suffered most was Harbhajan Singh, a close friend now. "It was impossible to bowl to him that day," Harbhajan recalled.
The media focus and the adulation from millions of people has not affected Sehwag's approach to life and cricket. He has remained as approachable and warm as ever with his greatest support coming from the Delhi dressing room. "He's a simple soul and I know he will remain so," said Dahiya with authority. Sehwag is a very shy individual and the only time he raises his voice is when he appeals. What puts him off? "Parties" where I have seen he is distinctly uncomfortable.
The National selectors deserve a big pat for recognising Sehwag's talent and grooming him. They now need to back him.
The pressure, Sehwag understands, will be on him. He will be the marked man after that brilliant Test innings and the expectations from his fans is bound to grow too. "I won't let them down," says Sehwag. That could be a discomforting thought for the bowlers no doubt but Sehwag will also do well and be prepared for the thunderbolts that will be hurled at him in the middle. He is certainly a batsman to contend with now.
Comments
SHARE