July 28: Virender Sehwag owes it to Sachin Tendulkar. If not for a mature innings from the maestro on the third day of the second Test here, Sehwag’s shot selection would have drawn a lot more flak. It was another occasion where the opener played a loose shot when he had the bowling on the mat. Full credit to Sehwag for following his instincts, a method that has brought in so much success, but his wicket gave an opening to the hosts that they exploited well.
“I was disappointed, not because I was out on 99 but because of the situation. It would have been better had we been only two wickets down. We had the opportunity to post a big total. Thanks to Tendulkar we are back in a good situation. If we play well tomorrow the follow-on can be avoided,” said Sehwag, adding no one had to remind him of his score as the scoreboard said in big letters that he had 99.
Showering praises on debutant Suresh Raina, Sehwag added: “I knew somebody will make a big score. I was expecting a hundred from both Laxman and Tendulkar. Unfortunately the decision against Laxman was doubtful. Full praise to Suresh Raina he batted really well and I hope he goes on to make a hundred tomorrow.”
The delivery that Sehwag got out to looked a straighter one, but the opener noted that it was a doosra and he picked it from the hand yet decided to go ahead with the shot. “It was tough batting out there after fielding for nearly two days, but I should have made the start count for more,” explained Sehwag.
The match is not taking a definite course. India will have to have one more good day to count themselves safe. Sehwag, though, saw a result over the next two days. “It is difficult to predict. I think result will be there. It doesn’t matter who wins.”
The wicket is slow as usual. “It’s good for batting on the first two days and from there the spinners get a bit of assistance. Batting can be difficult from the fourth evening. We will try to bat a full day and score as many as we can,” said Sehwag who missed his fourth successive hundred.
Sehwag saluted Tendulkar’s hunger for runs “When Raina and Sachin were batting it was difficult to spot the debutant. The big advantage with Sachin is that whenever he gets going, he approaches it as his first game,” added Sehwag.