‘Did Sachin Tendulkar ever react?’ Virender Sehwag tears into Ajinkya Rahane over 'agenda', Cricket Australia dig

Virender Sehwag invoked Sachin Tendulkar in a stinging critique of Ajinkya Rahane’s approach.

Updated on: Apr 7, 2026, 13:53:58 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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Former India batter Virender Sehwag has taken a strong stance against Ajinkya Rahane, expressing his displeasure over not one, but two of the Kolkata Knight Riders captain’s recent remarks following defeats in their opening matches of IPL 2026. Sehwag even invoked Sachin Tendulkar in a stinging critique of Rahane’s approach.

Virender Sehwag was not happy with Ajinkya Rahane's recent statements

The first comment that drew Sehwag’s attention was Rahane’s dig at Cricket Australia when he was asked why Cameron Green had not bowled in the match against Mumbai Indians. The second was Rahane’s response to criticism of his strike rate, where he claimed that detractors had a “certain agenda” and were “jealous.”

“I don’t think players should say all of this,” Sehwag said. “I know he is the captain and was asked why Cameron Green is not bowling. He did not have a straight answer, so he said to ask Cricket Australia. I can understand that. But if someone is questioning my strike rate or batting style, people will praise you and criticise you — you have to stay neutral with both.”

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Sehwag then pointed to Tendulkar’s example, highlighting how even the greatest cricketers faced criticism but chose not to engage with it publicly. He stressed that responding to critics only shifts focus away from performance.

“Why is there a need to engage in such fights? It may seem like you are answering critics, but even Bachchan saab never did that. There can be no bigger example than Tendulkar. One newspaper even wrote ‘Endulkar’. Did he respond? If you respond, it becomes a win for the critics, not for you,” he added.

Sehwag’s remarks came during KKR’s home fixture against Punjab Kings on Monday at Eden Gardens. The match was washed out after just 3.4 overs due to rain, with both teams sharing a point. While the result helped KKR open their account this season, it did little to ease the pressure following their poor start to IPL 2026.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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