Former India coach Greg Chappell has revealed that his insistence on pushing Sachin Tendulkar down the batting order against his wish during the 2007 World Cup led to a “breakdown” of relations with the icon.
In a book on Tendulkar titled SACH, written by Gautam Bhattacharya, Chappell said the conditions in the West Indies demanded a power-hitter in the middle order and the choice was between Sehwag and Tendulkar. As Sehwag refused to come down the order, Tendulkar was approached who agreed reluctantly. “It wasn’t just me alone. Rahul Dravid was also involved in the thinking which felt the matches were going to be decided in the middle overs and you needed the brilliance of either a Sachin or Sehwag in that position,” Chappell said.