The Surfer

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

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.

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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.

India tour of Sri Lanka

Ashok Ganguly is an editorial assistant at Cricinfo