Tiger Pataudi Sir gave me an advice which changed the way I played Test cricket: Virender Sehwag

It would not be wrong at all to say that Virender Sehwag redefined Test cricket. In a format where strike-rate is of least importance and patience is regarded as a much-needed character, the former India opener showed that one can excel in the oldest and most challenging format of the game with a different approach too.

Virender Sehwag knew only one way of playing Test cricket and that was to attack the bowlers. No matter what the situation was, who the opposition was or who the bowler was, the legendary batsman never shied away from his mantra of watch the ball and hit the ball. And that simple mantra brought big success for him as he is one of the finest Test openers of all time.

In 2004, he became the first Indian to score a triple century and is now the only Indian to score a Test triple century twice. And on Sunday, Virender Sehwag revealed that it was former skipper Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi who changed the way he approached Test cricket with a piece of advice.

“I did not want to let go of the opportunity to deliver the Tiger Pataudi Memorial Lecture as I have a personal relation with him,” Sehwag was quoted as saying by India Today while delivering the seventh Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi Lecture at the BCCI awards.

“I had watched his batting videos but had never spoken to him. I usually do not take anybody’s advice. But Tiger Pataudi sir gave me an advice which changed the way I played Test cricket. I am ever so grateful to him for the advice,” revealed Sehwag before adding:  “One of my last interactions with him was about Delhi cricket, when Arun Jaitley ji called us to his home to help restructure and revive and streamline Delhi cricket.”

On Sourav Ganguly and Virat Kohli

Virender Sehwag, who represented India in 104 Tests, 251 ODIs and 19 T20Is, also spoke about his former teammates Sourav Ganguly and Virat Kohli. Sehwag hailed Ganguly as the boss of Indian cricket as a captain as well as the BCCI president. While speaking about Kohli, Sehwag said he is hopeful the current captain would win the T20 World Cup this year and also urged him to keep Test cricket relevant.

“Sourav Ganguly is the boss. He was the boss of the Indian cricket team and made me open the batting. And now he is the boss of BCCI. I hope Virat lifts the T20 World Cup in Australia… but do remember Test cricket in your thoughts as well. It needs your best wishes to remain to the ‘pink’ of its health,” added Sehwag.

Free Hit – 20 Questions with Sikandar Raza