By Qaiser Mohammad Ali, IANS
Kanpur : Indian batsman Virender Sehwag says he has achieved 80 percent of international success, including a record two triple centuries, because of his mental toughness and self-confidence.
“Eighty percent of my success at the international level has come because of my mental toughness and rest 20 percent because of my skills. And it is this mental toughness that transforms good players into great players,” Sehwag told IANS in an interview.
“You also have the examples of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid; their success too has come because of their mental state. Every player practices to polish his skills. But, tell me, how many have the mental toughness of a Tendulkar or a Dravid?”
Sehwag, known to be a big-occasion player, joined the elite company of legendary Australian Don Bradman and West Indies’ Brian Lara by scoring his second triple century, an outstanding 319, in the first Test against South Africa in Chennai last month.
Sehwag’s maiden triple century (309) was against Pakistan in Multan in 2004. He is the only Indian to get triple ton.
Sehwag, 29, disclosed that he has discussed the importance of mental toughness with Tendulkar many times over.
“He told me that to grow from being just a good player to a great player you have to control your mind. Discipline and dedication are also important aspects,” said Sehwag.
Right-handed Sehwag, who relies heavily on his eye-hand coordination, said that many a times when he got out at the international level he didn’t have a proper mindset.
“Only 10 to 20 percent of times bowlers have got me out with their skills. About 80 percent of times, I have got out because of my mindset,” he said.
Sehwag, who was dropped from the Test team due to poor form last year, made a successful comeback on the recent Australian tour with a match-saving century (151) in the fourth Test in Adelaide. He followed it up with a stunning triple hundred in Chennai.
Despite his success in Tests, Sehwag has failed to repeat the same success in one-dayers off late. He has always been a good one-day player but has not been consistent. Now his aim is to carve a permanent place in the one-day side.
“Not scoring in the one-dayers has hurt me,” he conceded.
Sehwag was featured in only five of the 10 one-dayers that India played in the Commonwealth Bank Triangular Series in Australia in February-March and his highest score was 33. He is keen to improve his performance if he is picked for the triangular series in Bangladesh in next month.