Viru’s turn of fate

Coach AN Sharma recalls Sehwag’s school days, when the India opener would grab at every chance to bowl. “He just loved to bowl. Whenever I was late in reaching a match, he would quietly bowl medium-pace with the new ball before bowling off-spin with the old. There were so many times when he opened the bowling for us as a seamer. He’s as gifted an off-spinner as a batsman. He can get the ball to turn really big and it was a difficult choice for us to make. But when I did make it, I told him categorically to concentrate on his batting. I couldn’t keep him off the ball, so I told him to first finish his batting, and then complete knocking before even touching the ball at the nets,” he says.

Making the most of chances
On Saturday, Sehwag will be eyeing his first ever five-wicket haul in Test cricket. The 30-year old also speaks about his love for bowling, but rues the fact that he doesn’t get as many bowling opportunities with Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh in the team as the main spinners. “Anil bhai was injured so someone had to bowl. I got this opportunity to bowl 20 overs after a long time. I just wanted to contain the runs and that’s what I did, and in the process also got the wickets,” says Sehwag. He adds: “No batsman can be satisfied without scoring runs but I am happy to have contributed to the team’s cause. It’s my job. I have a chance to claim my first five-wicket haul.”

Pitch playing tricks
Sehwag insists that some of his balls during the match on Friday were almost unplayable with the Ferozeshah Kotla pitch playing all kinds of tricks.

Sharma, however, believes there’s a method to his unplayable deliveries as well. “I always believe that a young spinner needs to bowl medium-pace for sometime before bowling spin. That will help develop his muscles, so that a spinner can get as much purchase off the wicket when he hits the deck. So if Viru got the ball to turn and bounce, I am not surprised at all,” he says.

Sharma has few qualms in Sehwag being billed as an all-rounder at this stage of his career. “What was important was to set his priorities early on. I wanted him to become a batsman because he showed better qualities in that department. That he’s managed to keep up his bowling alongside is brilliant,” he concludes.