Sehwag departs. This is certainly one of the worst news I have ever heard. He was one of a kind. Never changed himself as long as he played. Carefree. Just see the ball, hit it. No issues at all. If it works, then okay. If not, so what? He was one of those players who made cricket memorable and more enjoyable.
The first time I witnessed him was in ICC Champions Trophy 2002 against England, when he came out to open with Sourav Ganguly. The target was 269 under lights. Mind you. It was 2002, not 2015. The target of 269 was supposed to be tough against well disciplined English attack. Not for Sehwag. He dismantled whole english bowling single-handedly. Sourav joined too. India won within 40 overs chasing 270. Ridiculous. Welcome to Sehwagology. Another fan of Sehwag was born. Since then, I have always enjoyed watching him bat.
He was always considered a limited over player with the kind of dashing style he had. Although, I didn't see his debut test match live, I noticed that when he came out to bat in his debut game, India were 68 for 4 and struggling. He once again took South African attack single-handedly and scored a ton on debut. He ripped apart Pollock, Kallis, Ntini and scored a ton with a strike rate better than 60 in South African conditions.
He was always like that. When he hit the ball, fielders didn't have time to think, forget about stopping. Whether he cut the ball or drove the ball, the speed of the ball remained the same. Extraordinary hand-eye co-ordination and immense will-power. Be it Akram, Akhtar, McGrath, Warne, Bond, Wanderers, Perth, last day of the ball, first ball of the innings, he had one rule: Just hit the ball, damn other things. A few of those rare human beings, who scored two triple tons. A country from where none has ever scored a triple ton, he reached there in style: with a six. That was the fearlessness of Sehwag. He made another against South Africa at better than run a ball. I still savor the day when he scored 195 against the best pace attack in the world in the deadliest of conditions. When he was in the zone, he was unstoppable. Bowlers used to tremble as any ball could go outside the fence.
When he came out to bat, There was a disarray in opposition camp. Any plan you may have made, it all depended upon Sehwag getting out cheaply. He could change the whole game in just one hour of batting. As long as he was on the crease, bowlers couldn't catch a break. He used to score 200+ in the team score of 330. :P He was the reason India believed that they could chase 387: only the fourth highest chase in test cricket in 200 years. Dont' forget who scored second double century in ODI cricket after Sachin Tendulkar.
He was one of childhood heroes of mine and will always be. I consider myself extremely lucky to watch him come and go. He had immense mental strength to do what he wanted to do. He was there to express himself. Others have stopped, slowed, changed, restricted, just to survive, to thrive, to score all that they could score. Not him. Maybe he just couldn't slow down, couldn't hold back. What a legend!!!
Play your shots, forget your mistakes, forget your success, keep playing your shots. Believe.
We shall miss you always.
-- A fan.
The first time I witnessed him was in ICC Champions Trophy 2002 against England, when he came out to open with Sourav Ganguly. The target was 269 under lights. Mind you. It was 2002, not 2015. The target of 269 was supposed to be tough against well disciplined English attack. Not for Sehwag. He dismantled whole english bowling single-handedly. Sourav joined too. India won within 40 overs chasing 270. Ridiculous. Welcome to Sehwagology. Another fan of Sehwag was born. Since then, I have always enjoyed watching him bat.
He was always considered a limited over player with the kind of dashing style he had. Although, I didn't see his debut test match live, I noticed that when he came out to bat in his debut game, India were 68 for 4 and struggling. He once again took South African attack single-handedly and scored a ton on debut. He ripped apart Pollock, Kallis, Ntini and scored a ton with a strike rate better than 60 in South African conditions.
He was always like that. When he hit the ball, fielders didn't have time to think, forget about stopping. Whether he cut the ball or drove the ball, the speed of the ball remained the same. Extraordinary hand-eye co-ordination and immense will-power. Be it Akram, Akhtar, McGrath, Warne, Bond, Wanderers, Perth, last day of the ball, first ball of the innings, he had one rule: Just hit the ball, damn other things. A few of those rare human beings, who scored two triple tons. A country from where none has ever scored a triple ton, he reached there in style: with a six. That was the fearlessness of Sehwag. He made another against South Africa at better than run a ball. I still savor the day when he scored 195 against the best pace attack in the world in the deadliest of conditions. When he was in the zone, he was unstoppable. Bowlers used to tremble as any ball could go outside the fence.
When he came out to bat, There was a disarray in opposition camp. Any plan you may have made, it all depended upon Sehwag getting out cheaply. He could change the whole game in just one hour of batting. As long as he was on the crease, bowlers couldn't catch a break. He used to score 200+ in the team score of 330. :P He was the reason India believed that they could chase 387: only the fourth highest chase in test cricket in 200 years. Dont' forget who scored second double century in ODI cricket after Sachin Tendulkar.
He was one of childhood heroes of mine and will always be. I consider myself extremely lucky to watch him come and go. He had immense mental strength to do what he wanted to do. He was there to express himself. Others have stopped, slowed, changed, restricted, just to survive, to thrive, to score all that they could score. Not him. Maybe he just couldn't slow down, couldn't hold back. What a legend!!!
Play your shots, forget your mistakes, forget your success, keep playing your shots. Believe.
We shall miss you always.
-- A fan.
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