As an entire nation raises a toast to Virender Sehwag, it’s unfortunate that the man who first spotted the youngster — then just 15 — and predicted a ‘‘bright future’’ for the Najafgarh lad, is no longer around.Satish ‘Neelu’ Sharma of Madras Cricket Club first saw the teenager at work in a local tournament, and brought him to the reputed Delhi club. Those who saw Sehwag speaking on TV after his innings today would remember that along with his parents and current coach Amarnath Sharma (Vikas Puri Govt School), he also mentioned Satish Sharma.Neelu, as everyone clued into Delhi cricket is aware, had a profound influence on Sehwag, and though he’s not around to watch his pupil making history, Sehwag didn’t forget to acknowledge his tutor, who died a few years ago while playing a volleyball game.It was due to the persistent efforts of Sharma, then a member of the DDCA Executive committee, and former Delhi opening batsman Manu Nayyar (then an U-19 selector) that Sehwag was picked for the Delhi U-19 team after having failed to make it to the U-16 team earlier.It was again the Madras Club coach who helped the young cricketer get admitted to Jamia Millia Islamia for his BA (Pass) course in 1997-98, which might not have happened otherwise, because as Sehwag admitted today, ‘‘Everyone knew I was no good at academics’’.Neelu would have definitely been extremely happy to see his protege reach such dizzying heights at the international level in such a short period.Indeed, Neelu’s prediction about the young boy has come true. But for his initiation, the world might have missed out on the swashbuckling champion, who can now even stake claims of being one of the greatest Indian batsmen ever.
