'Didn't get so angry even when I missed a triple century': Sehwag after Virat Kohli denied him huge milestone
Virender Sehwag was known for being a highly effective part-time bowler apart from a dangerous batter of his time.
Virender Sehwag was part of a generation of Indian batters who, apart from being known for their ability with the willow, were also very useful part-time bowlers. Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh were among those who have often made significant contributions with the ball for India, taking five-wicket hauls and four-wicket hauls in their international careers.
Sehwag said that there were times when he cherished a bowling milestone, to the point that there was an occasion when he shouted at a young Virat Kohli for dropping a catch off his bowling.
"I don't know about magic but I did get some big batters out with my bowling. Ponting, Hayden, Hussey, Sangakkara, Jayawardene, Dilshan, Lara, some top batters. I once dismissed Gilchrist round his legs in Perth. The big ones did fall to me sometimes," he told YouTuber Ranveer Allahabadia ok his channel BeerBiceps.
"I actually felt quite sad when Virat Kohli once dropped a dolly off me at midwicket once. I would have probably got to some bowling milestone but he ended up putting it down. I got so angry, probably far more than when I missed a triple century. I told him come on man, you should have caught that," said Sehwag.
Sehwag took 40 wickets in 104 Tests, including a five wicket haul, which he took in third Test between India and Australia in Delhi. Sehwag bowled a whopping 40 overs in the Australian first innings and ended with figures of 5/104. In ODIs, 96 wickets in 251 matches, which included an incredible game in which he ended with figures of 4/6. The match was against Bangladesh in the 2010 Asia Cup in Dambulla and Sehwag got the big wicket of Mushfiqur Rahim before sweeping away the last three wickets of the innings in a single over.
Sehwag played his last international match in 2013, which was when Kohli was still considered a precocious young talent. He said that while Kohli's talent was never doubted, no one thought that he would go on to achieve the heights he has scaled in the years since.
"No one ever doubted his talent but I didn't believe that Kohli would reach the heights he has now. Others may have felt that way but I didn't. Even when he smashed (Lasith) Malinga in that match for fours – I think we needed some 280 inside 40 overs – he scored a wonderful century. So we knew there was no lacking in talent and that he will score runs but didn't know that he will reach such legendary status and hit 70-75 centuries or score 25000 runs. I was doubtful about that because it's one thing to have talent but how long can you convert it into performances. Will he be this mentally strong? Today, he has proven everyone including me wrong. The greatness Kohli has reached today is unbelievable," Sehwag said.
