Sehwag does it alone

Kunal Pradhan of the Indian Express criticises Virender Sehwag's team-mates in the Indian team for failing to support him adequately, which was illustrated during the ongoing second Test in Galle, when he contributed 201 in their first-innings total of 329.

But the story of Sehwag, the batsman, is not just a modern-day fable about hand-eye coordination, balance, the will to take risks, and the resolve to back yourself against any odds. There is a parallel story-line in which he is criticised for being reckless, the shortcomings in his technique are highlighted by experts in tacky e-stadiums on TV channels, and there’s a constant debate on how many times he has let India down by losing his head when he should have used it.

What hardly anyone talks about is how many times Sehwag has been let down by his own illustrious team mates after he’s handed them a Test match on a platter by providing them with the best platform they could’ve ever hoped for. Inevitably, instead of building on a blazing century-stand or a mammoth run-a-ball opening that should bolster the confidence of any middle-order batsman, India have crumbled under the weight of his runs.