Under Virat, India can win overseas: Virender Sehwag

Tags: Virat Kohli, Virender Sehwag, India

Published on: Dec 02, 2016

Former India opener Virender Sehwag believes that the current Indian Test team led by Virat Kohli has the ability to win matches outside the sub-continent, just like the Indian side under Sourav Ganguly in the early to mid-2000s

Former India opener Virender Sehwag believes that the current Indian Test team led by Virat Kohli has the ability to win matches outside the sub-continent, just like the Indian side under Sourav Ganguly in the early to mid-2000s. His successor MS Dhoni took India to the number one Test ranking, but had an embarrassing record away from home, being whitewashed 4-0 in Australia and England, and being beaten convincingly during their next visits as well. But, Sehwag believes things are different under Kohli.

"I believe this team under Virat has the quality and capability of winning Test matches outside the sub-continent. They can definitely emulate the performances of the team that played under Sourav Ganguly and won Test matches in England and Australia," Sehwag was quoted as saying by PTI. Under Kohli, India having beaten South Africa and New Zealand 3-0 at home, and are currently leading England 2-0 in the five-match series.

The former cricketer feels it is India’s pace attack that could make the big difference in the current team. "The potential of the batting unit with Virat as the leader, we have all seen. You need a good bowling attack to take wickets. We have a brilliant bowler like Mohammed Shami. We have Umesh Yadav and someone like Ishant Sharma, who can also win India matches. There is no reason why they can't replicate their performances at home in overseas conditions," Sehwag further told PTI. India are currently playing with Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav, with the most experienced pace bowler Ishant Sharma sitting out.

On India’s domestic scene, Sehwag was highly impressed with Rishabh Pant, who has scored bucketful of runs this season. "Rishabh's future is very bright. He will certainly play for India. In my career, I have not seen cases where people have performed consistently and yet did not get a chance at the highest level," Sehwag was further quoted as saying by PTI.

"There is a process in place for everything. Rishabh has to maintain this consistency and before one plays for India, there is India A. He will certainly get his chance to play for India A. He has to utilise that and I believe no one can then stop him from playing for India," the former dasher went on to add.

The PTI report stated that Sehwag was in the UAE to promote 10 Premier League, a tennis ball tournament. Recalling his experience with tennis ball during his younger days, Sehwag told PTI, "There wasn't use to be individual payments at that point of time in mid and late 90's in Delhi's tennis ball tournaments. The tournaments I played had the winning team getting a purse of Rs 2100, Rs 3100 which would be divided among 11 players.

"I, in fact, played a tennis ball tournament after playing for India. Post 2000, tennis ball cricket also became a career for a lot of players with prize money shooting up to Rs 51,000. But 250,000 Dirham for tennis ball event is unheard of," he further added.

Asked whether he would still want to play tennis ball events, Sehwag told PTI, "Why not? I would love to play such a tournament. People throng to the grounds to see a Dhoni, Tendulkar or a Sehwag hit sixes and fours. Tennis ball is a different pressure. People won't be happy for anything less than sixes and fours.”

--By A Cricket Correspondent

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