I used to copy Sachin Tendulkar since I started watching cricket from the 1992 World Cup: Virender Sehwag

Former Indian opening batsman Virender Sehwag is renowned as one of the ferocious Indian batsmen of all time. Sehwag is responsible for instilling an attacking mindset and aggressive brand of cricket in the Indian cricket fraternity. Just like many other Indian players, Sehwag started his journey in cricket by being a fan of the former Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar.

On Wednesday, June 9, Sehwag assembled for his app launch as he introduced the world to CRICURU. The app will provide special coaching to the players and will have the services of coaches like AB de Villiers and Brian Lara. During the interaction, Sehwag narrated his story regarding how he got inspired to play the sport.

Elaborating on his journey on the field, Sehwag revealed that his interest in the gentlemen’s game developed during the 1992 World Cup. The veteran added that it was the first time that he watched cricket on TV and was fascinated with the way Tendulkar played straight drives.

“Cricket is played on the ground but a lot can be learned. If I give my own example, I started watching cricket from the 1992 World Cup and at that time used to watch (Sachin) Tendulkar and copy him. How he plays the straight drives, how he plays the back-foot punch… In 1992, if I could watch TV and learn a bit, why not,” Sehwag was quoted as saying by Timesnownews.com.

If in my time such facilities were there, I could have played for India early: Virender Sehwag 

There is no doubt to the fact that technology has made things easy for budding cricketers. It is now easy to look at the bowling and batting clip of every player and learn their action in detail. Sehwag believes that if he had such facilities during his childhood he would have broken all the records with ease and would have made his debut for India much earlier in his career.

“But in today’s time if you have videos of these cricketers whom you admire — AB de Villiers, Brian Lara, Chris Gayle or Virender Sehwag, or other players, then their videos are available. In our time, such videos were not available.

“If in my time such facilities were there like I could speak to someone online or subscribe the videos with ease, then I would have done that and could have learned better and early and could have played for India early,” Sehwag added.