‘Can you give it to me in writing on paper?’ Angered by Captain Ganguly’s decision, the veteran batsman had made this special demand.

New Delhi. Team India’s former opener Virender Sehwag was known for aggressive batting. He batted fearlessly throughout his career. He has three triple centuries in his name in Test cricket and became the second Indian after Sachin Tendulkar to score a double century in ODI. The historic innings of 219 runs played in ODI lasted for almost 3 years. After this, Rohit Sharma left this record behind by scoring 264 runs. Sehwag had told in an interview that Sourav Ganguly had a big contribution in his becoming an opener. Who transformed him from a middle order batsman to a successful opening batsman. Ganguly knew that a player of Veeru’s stature would not be able to do justice to himself in the middle order, so sensing Sehwag’s talent, he made him open and Veeru grabbed this opportunity with both hands.

In the 2011 ODI World Cup, Virender Sehwag started India’s campaign by playing a brilliant inning of 175 runs in the first match. Although he did not start as an opener. Sehwag started his Test career in 2001 under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly. He made his debut against South Africa in Bloemfontein, where he batted at number four and scored a century. The decision to promote Sehwag to the opening position was taken later. In a program of Ocean Blue Academy, Ganguly had told how Sehwag was persuaded to open. Sourav Ganguly said, ‘I was very fortunate that I got the opportunity to captain a player like Virender Sehwag. Who was a young player who came from Delhi. Who had a lot of talent. A week before the first Test started, I went to him and said, ‘Viru, you are a very brilliant player, but you are not getting a chance to play because we have Dravid at number three, Tendulkar at number four, me at number five and Laxman is on the sixth.

‘I will make Kishore Kumar…’ Sehwag was humming in the middle of the field, the bat fell from behind, then what happened next is difficult to believe.

Sehwag said- I never opened
Sourav Ganguly said that I told him that you know that players like you cannot sit on the bench. So why don’t you open? On this Sehwag said that Dada, I have never opened. Then I said, what if you have not opened? Ganguly said that I knew that his next question would be what if I get out early with the new ball?

Sourav Ganguly made this promise to Veeru
Then Sourav Ganguly told Sehwag that if you fail then it will not make any difference to us because you are doing something in the interest of the team. You are going to do something you have never done. Therefore, even if you fail in opening, we will give you a chance to bat lower in the order. Ganguly told that when our conversation was over, Veeru asked, can you write it down on paper and give it to me.

Ganguly’s frankness boosted Veeru’s confidence
Virender Sehwag has also told many times that Ganguly had said that even if you fail in the opening, we will give you three-four more innings. We will not drop you from the team. Before throwing you out, we will definitely give you a chance to bat in the lower order. Veeru said that Dada has honesty and that boosted my confidence. Then I felt that since Dada is supporting me so much, then I should also try opening. Veeru has accepted many times that whatever he is today is because of his grandfather.

Tags: saurav ganguly, virender sehwag