Sehwag is called the Destroyer, say the murderer, a bowler’s worst nightmare.Especially, off late this younggun of India has come of ages by overshadowing the master, Tendulkar himself, with his remarkable strokeplay.His aggressive attitude and his attacking nature has given almost all international and so called top class bowlers a run for their money.It gives me great pleasure to discuss
about this wonderful and talented batsman.
Called as Najafgarh Tendulkar, Sehwag resembles the master both in strokeplay and in stature. That short schoolboyish height, powerful stroke making abilities and stance, everything is so similar to the little master. Say, Sehwag is Tendulkar II and that wouldn’t be that a bad call. Sehwag is surely a dedicated ward. He is so
determined to blast the opposition attack away and his great sense of timing only means that he is not only a powerhouse but also an extraordinary strokemaker who can complement power with skill.
One thing that has made him a furious batsman that he is is the confidence he lays on himself.That confidence of performing even after failures.That positive attitude really gives his batting that needed boost and what shall I say, he is one heck of a batsman.Looking back, there are quite a few fond memoires of this fellow.I had this habit of going through any petite scorecard on the paper and I often used to see this guy’s name saying that he played a
blitzkreig knock and so on.I thought this guy ought to be in the Indian team and there he was.In 1999 he was picked for one match against Pakistan in Mohali but then he was dropped.Well, I believe that really wasn’t the right time for this guy to prove himself.
When, Tendulkar had to miss a series, Sehwag came in as an opener in the side and there you got him. He made that furious hundred against NewZealand and got all the bowlers on red-alert.Sehwag is a Typhoon of sorts.He never gets intimidated or bogged down.He keeps a cool head and even when wickets are tumbling around him, he nevers gives up his aggressive instinct.That has been one distinguishing factor.This has indeed made him a match winner.He is person who nowadays provides a platform of acceleration by his explosive batting for the middle order to consolidate and build up a huge score.
This year is a real turn out for him.He blazed the Englishmen in their own backyard and well, he created a furore of sorts in the ICC Champions Trophy by hitting each and every bowler down and out.The punishment he rendered to the bowlers was simply unimaginable and well, he gave the Englishmen nightmares, I believe.Just have a look at the batting order and that is enough for a team to suffer from
inferiority complex when they face India. Sehwag opens the batting along with Saurav.Then comes in Laxman or Mongia who can bat pretty well.Only then does the Master comes in and only to be followed by the Wall, Dravid.Then you get the powerhouse in Yuvraj and Kaif follows up with the uncanny knack of rotating the strike and accelerating when needed.Going through this huge batting line up is one heck of a task and that is one reason why Sehwag has merged as a substantial force.
Sehwag is a great striker of the ball and though he doesn’t boost a big average, one just can’t but mention the strike rate he maintains.It is just over 100 and that too, so consistently.Even in Test Cricket he plays the same way he does in one-dayers and this is only to the advantage of the team.Averaging over 50, he certainly is a greater force in Test matches. He simply can destroy a bowling attack apart and well, bowlers, take a bout.
Coming back to the onedayers, he certainly can fill in the 5th bowler spot and take some vital wickets.Though not as effective a spinner, he certainly can contain the batsmen, frustrate them and take some big wickets.As a fielder too, he excels. Being a good close in fielder, he can grab some exotic catches.
So where does he really go wrong?I think probably he commits a mistake when he drives away from the body.This is where, he has got out most of the time. And the hook shot should be learned by him because at times the bouncer mights spell his doomsday.Being over-aggressive also has made him a lot more succeptible.
Coming to another view, does his batting overshadow the master, Sachin? No, in my opinion, certainly not. Sachin is a great batsman and he has done enough to prove his worth. Nobody, I mean nobody can match him in any case.So I feel, Sehwag and Sachin are better off when they are not compared.
Concluding this review of mine, I would like to say that Sehwag is certainly a legend in the making and it is time he becomes a bit more mature in his approach and grooms his raw talent and makes it big time. With his extraordinary abilities, Sehwag emerges a match-winner and well, I am tempted to say that he is our next Sachin. All the best for Sehwag and let him blast the bowlers away and make them suffer from inferiority complex.