By Qaiser Mohammad Ali, IANS
Mumbai : Swashbuckling batsman Virender Sehwag has become a father just two days before he turns 29 and plays the Twenty20 match against Australia here.
“The baby boy was born here in Delhi Thursday and both the boy and mother (Aarti) are doing fine,” a happy Sehwag told IANS on phone from Delhi Friday.
Sehwag, who married Aarti in May 2004 soon after a successful tour of Pakistan, turns 29 Saturday. The same day he will play the Twenty20 match against Australia at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. The joy of becoming a father is expected to pep him up.
Since he was with his wife, Sehwag skipped a function here Thursday night when the Indian team that won the Twenty20 World Championship last month was felicitated. He also could not attend the practice session here Friday.
“I will be reaching Mumbai on Friday evening,” said India’s only triple centurion in Tests.
Asked if it was tough on a father of newly born baby to be away and playing a match, Sehwag said: “Not much. It’s just a matter of a day. I will leave for Delhi immediately after the day-night match is over.”
Will the enormity of the occasion play on Sehwag’s mind while taking on the rampaging Australians, who have already won the One-Day International series 4-2?
“Not at all. I will not get moved by sentiments or the occasion,” was the typical reply from the man who is known for his candid one-liners.
Will he cut a cake on his birthday in Mumbai Saturday? “I don’t know about that, but cakes are being cut here in Delhi,” he quipped.
Sehwag was a member of India’s Twenty20 World Championship-winning side in South Africa, but is currently out of the national ODI and Test teams.
But the former India captain has already shown signs of capturing his old form, notching scores of 114, 48, 30, 21, 45, 52 and 8 in ODIs.
Sehwag is a product of one-day cricket, but since making his unexpected Test debut in 2001 he has done far better in the longer version. At present, he has an excellent average of 49.46 in 52 Tests while his ODI average is 31.61 from 175 matches.
Sehwag’s favourite opponents have been Pakistan, against whom he cracked a triple century in Multan in 2004.
It is just a coincidence that Pakistan is the next team India will play at home, starting next month. The Delhi captain must already be licking his lips at the mention of ‘Pakistan’. He has already smashed four centuries, including the triple century and two double tons, to amass 1,276 runs at a staggering average of 91.14 in nine Tests against them.
Looking at his ODI form – and if he scores well against Australia here Saturday – the selectors will be more than tempted to recall Sehwag for the three Tests and five ODIs against Pakistan.