http://cricket.indiatimes.com/indiainsaarticleshow/613364.cmsSehwag in the line of fire
BOBILLI VIJAY KUMAR|
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
CAPE TOWN, Nov 28: Virender Sehwag is an enigma within a riddle. At the best of times, he is inscrutable, rarely showing any emotion on the field. Even if he has just completed a century, a double or even a triple, he only raises his hands, throws his head back, looks up with closed eyes and thanks the stars above him.
It almost feels like he is hardly surprised. When he gets out too, he merely nods his head and walks away as though nothing untoward has really happened. He is a supremely confident man, well aware of his prowess, abilities and dynamic talent.
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So it was a little strange to watch his flay his bat in disappointment on Sunday and repeat the slice-shot as he returned to the pavilion. The truth is Viru is a man under siege. He has been going through a long and lean phase and luck seems to have sneaked out of his window.
More importantly, the vibes within the team are not exactly jumping with joy. India’s chief problems are starting at the top, and ending there. He needs to worry because a certain sections within the team are not too happy with his approach.
They are particularly displeased that he withdrew from the Durban game at virtually the last second. "We needed him to play there very badly," said a senior member of the Indian contingent. Sehwag was ready and willing to play in the first match at Johannesburg despite the stitches on his finger. So his decision to pull out just three days later has raised more than a few eyebrows.
"I have seen many players play with a lot more than just a tear in his hand," said the official, on condition of anonymity. "Look back and you will see batsmen with broken hands and smashed jaws step up for the team. If he wanted he could have played the match. Indeed the team management could have insisted and made him play. But then what is the point in forcing someone if he is not himself willing."
Captain Rahul Dravid too had insisted on the eve of the game that Viru was almost definitely going to play. Eventually he didn’t. Sehwag returned to take his place in the third ODI and made zero.
The team official then explained to TOI the conflict in Sehwag’s mind. "He has achieved everything that he wanted in life. He is a superstar in India. He has earned more fame, money and everything else that he would ever want. He needs to figure out if he wants anything more," he said.
"To succeed at this level you need hunger and ambition. At the moment Viru has lost it. He is like a boxer who has been knocked down. A part of his mind may want to get up and fight. But another part wants to stay down because it’s scared of another knock," he explained.
"It’s a question of hard work from here. Is he willing to do that, fight his way back. Or is he happy with what he has gained till now," the official said. He, however, had no doubt that Sehwag was a special talent. Sehwag, rather surprisingly, seems to be doing comfortably in Tests; it’s only in the One-dayers that he has hit a roadblock.
He alone can change it; and for that he has to let his mind take charge.Otherwise, he shall remain an enigma that shall torment Indian cricket for a long time.
AuthorTopic: TOI article - BCCI "forced" VS demotion - attitude issues with VS,HS (Read 431 times)
