By V.Srivatsa, IANS,
Virender Sehwag said during this year’s World Cup that he would try and play the full 50 overs in One-Day Internationals (ODI). For good measure he added that he had been trying to do so for a decade and that is hard to believe, though everyone knows how he builds monumental innings in Test cricket. He doesn’t remember he has ever batted for more than 42 or 44 overs.
He knew in his heart of hearts that if he plays 50 overs, he can get to a mindboggling score. He was modest to say that Sachin Tendulkar batted 50 overs more than once but he could get only one double hundred and that showed how difficult it is to get 200 runs in an ODI innings.
He tried against Bangladesh in a Dhaka World Cup game but could not, he was out for 175 in 140 balls. Now that he has scored the highest ODI score, 219, against West Indies in Indore, he knows that he doesn’t need to bat 50 overs to score a double hundred. He was out in the 44th over and in 140 deliveries he was past 200. Had he carried his bat through he would have, perhaps, closer to 300! He didn’t have to hurry to the landmark, that’s Sehwag for you.
He considers getting out to a score of 50-odd is a failure. Because, he invariably goes on to play a monumental innings once he crosses the half-century mark.
Sehwag has shown all the human failings in attaining greatness. He has scored runs by the ton and at the other end of the spectrum he just could not get going to get dropped from both the Test and ODI teams! If it had not been for Rahul Dravid, he would not have gone for the disastrous 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.
Sehwag can be self-critical as only he can. After India lost the third One-dayer in Ahmedabad earlier in the week, he lambasted the top-order, including himself, saying the main batsmen should click and fire if the team has to succeed. Those who know the Delhi blaster knew very well that Darren Sammy and his men will have to pay for the Ahmedabad victory.
Now that he has crossed the line, surely it won’t be the only double century for him in limited overs cricket.
The West Indians did not know what hit them here. Their hopes of running close in the series vanished into thin air. By nightfall, the dispirited West Indies just went through the motions to complete the formalities. That is the Sehwag effect.
(08.12.2011 – V. Srivatsa can be contacted at [email protected])