Coach Sharma recalls Virender Sehwag’s early penchant for bowling

He spun big and viciously to bamboozle the Australian batsmen. Taking on the role of a part-time bowler, he surprised everyone with his performance on Friday, but Virender Sehwag is perhaps the one specialist bowler India never had, thanks to his explosive batting. During his school days, he was repeatedly told to just concentrate on his batting — despite his immense liking to roll his arm over at every single opportunity.

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.”

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