India’s worry: Sehwag is yet to get on song

Once again, Virender Sehwag flattered to deceive. The batsman who was supposed to take the World Cup by storm has been about as threatening ...

Once again, Virender Sehwag flattered to deceive. The batsman who was supposed to take the World Cup by storm has been about as threatening as the breeze that blows in from the Indian Ocean. And, like the breeze, leaves you feeling cheated when it disapperas almost as soon as it comes in.

This World Cup has been a nightmare so far for the man from Najafgarh, who’s appeared unable to build his innings on the starts he’s had — typically flashy, studded with boundaries. Today’s innings, 23 off 29 balls with four boundaries, was a typical effort. His five innings have yielded 6, 4, 36, 24, 23; they don’t even add up to a century.

What’s worse is that he’s been getting out to lesser bowlers and unremarkable deliveries. In the first match, against Holland, he was out off a full toss, caught at point. Against Namibia, a short-pitched long hop which he pulled straight to the hands of mid-wicket. And today, he top-edged a harmless ball from Flintoff.

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Former English captain Michael Atherton calls him one of the two batsmen he loves to watch (the other is Sachin). He was especially enamoured of the ‘‘half-cock, half-drive which went like knife through butter.’’

But ask him why Sehwag got out early today, and why, indeed, he’s been getting out early recently, and he just shakes his head. ‘‘It is quite frustrating…he has to avoid losing concentration and play straighter.’’

Sehwag’s failure at the top also poses a problem for a line-up which has seen constant change. The last game against Namibia showed the Indians were sure of their numbers in the batting lineup. But Sehwag’s loss of form will be a worry for his captain, his team and his army of fans. Most of all, though, it will perturb the young man. And he knows only one way of answering back.