Sehwag - Version 2.0

Over the years since Sehwag has been playing cricket and the onces I have spent lapping it up the best way to enjoy Sehwag's brilliance is not to expect anything from him at all. But then that is the beauty of Sehwag's brilliance that we expect him to score of every opportunity. We expect him to be that “Rampaging Marauder” every time he walks out to bat. According to Dhoni Sehwag has got the “license to thrill”. Leave behind the 20/20 or the ODI formats, Sehwags strike rate in tests is above 70, he averages 53 in all tests played till date and right now he is by far the most “prolific BIG match player” in cricket right now (his scores are a proof to that). What is far more outstanding is none of his big hundreds are against any minnows. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa his appetite for runs comes mostly against the big teams.

He has dismantled Ntini, Pollock and Kallis on Debut, slammed a certain Ajanta Mendis to submission (currently dropped due to lack of form), a few years back he belted 2 hundred in the “Grassy Banks” in New Zealand where our esteemed BIG FOUR could not even manage 4 altogether. His form went away in the mid of 2007 and thus subsequently dropped but then he came back against the Australians in Australia He grappled at first looking more like a “Delhi Halwai” but the runs came. He missed, got beat, hit but still managed some good scores. And then suddenly like having a enhanced “Quad Core” processor out came Sehwag Version 2.0. The appetite for runs were as big as ever but along with it came a calm head. Its hard for him to shed his “Marauding Pirate” image but this new one wasn't like the image of a “Mocambo Khush Hua” types, this image was more of the slick, uber cool “Jonney Depp” ones.

Purists will argue about the fact of his greatness. He smiles when he misses a ball, laughs when he mis hits and is completely unconcerned whether he gets out on 0 or 293. Where is the anguish of a missed opportunity slipped by ? Rather once out he seems to eager to get back to the dressing room as if there are “Jalebis” beckoning. Where is that “Thrall or even Whiff” of so called “Greatness” ?

But then Sehwag doesn't walk out the the pitch in chase of greatness. His idea of playing cricket is plain and simple. The “Game Dekho, Balla Ghoomao” strategy might be mind boggling to others but then Sehwag choose to succeed in his own terms rather follow any coaching manual. He chooses to to be a dominator and tries to induce a fear factor in the mind of the bowlers. Only he can make Shoiab Akhtar reduced to bowling gentle medium pace, last week Murali came down from world class to club class in no time. Another fact about Sehwag is that he is a game changer. England learn t harsh lessons last year and Sri Lanka in the recently concluded series. Sehwag could have easily scored a decent hundred and remained not out but then this is not what you expect from a man who hits his first 3 deliveries of a new tour for sixes. Of course there would be failures and his way of domination might result in throwing his wicket away, but then that is Sehwag and there is no better reason or rationale behind it. Responsibility and Sehwag seldom go hand in hand but then with such a game changer amidst the team why burden him with “Responsibility”.

Any of Sehwag's innings are always characterized by the words “destructive”, “explosive” etc. but then what we miss to see and express is that Sehwag is a true genius. The Nawab of Najafgarh is probably the best batsman in the world today. Sorry Grame Smith you may disagree with a certain AB to showcase but then AB does not even come close to Sehwag in mind of the the audacious shot making concerned and leave alone the fact of being a game changer. The only player right now who could get near to Sehwag on comparison is Kevin Pieterson but then he needs to keep his mind on cricket rather than concentrating dancing with his model wife. Yes there has been shades of Flintoffs brilliance in the summer of 2005 sadly his knee gave away (Briton needs to shed its chubby image), Ponting has been brilliant all summer, winter even spring but still I place Sehwag above all for the sheer audacity of his stroke play. He might not be a languid Sachin or a flowing Laxman, he might not be as consistent as Ponting nor would he have the grit or determination of Dravid. But then the above names are virtual gods in the field, their technique immaculate their back lift perfect concentration not wavering even once. Sehwag on the other hand would walk down to the pitch as if taking a stroll in Najafgarh, he would play his shots as if swatting flies. Sehwag makes batting look SIMPLE. He dismantles bowling attacks with the ease of ordering pizza. 30 minutes is all it takes, for the pizza to arrive or for Sehwag to finish off a match. More over the millions of fans who cry out his name can symbolize themselves to being more Sehwag than Sachin or Ponting. Ridiculous it might seem but Sehwags way of playing cricket is much like the “Gully Cricket” played in the sub continent. There is no need of footwork a decent hand eye co ordination would do, with 5 overs to play for hit is all one can do and bowlers who are they, they are there so that we can belt the ball. What Sehwag has in abundance is the gift of perfect hand eye co ordination not to mention a very still head too. But what is even more surprising is the power he generates. Creaming the ball is not meant for Sehwag he bludgeons it. The message is clear, Balls are meant to be put in the STANDS.

In Flow or not Sehwag does not allow one to expect it. He just plays audacious shots, very often ludicrous ones too, but at the heart of them you will find a unique quality: felicity and there lies his greatness. Sachin wont miss a delivery and then try reverse sweeping the next one beside the keeper, Sehwag just might. And then suddenly against the run of play he might just get out meekly at a half volley or a full toss. A few days back at the verge of history he popped a catch back to Murali and just walked away. A lesser person would have played it safe but then that was Sehwag, “Aaj Nahin to Phir Kabhi”.

If Sehwag Version 1.0 was brilliant, Sehwag Version 2 has been simply mesmeric. But then this is only possible as his team supports him in his way of going about with his style of batting. Asking Sehwag to cut down on taking risks and be more responsible is like having James Bond drink Haywards 5000 instead of Dom Perigion 53 and making him drive a Fiat Padmini rather an Aston Martin.

So for the sake of the millions who flock the grounds and cram in front of 14 inch TV sets to get a glimpse of one more audacious shot let Sehwag play the way he knows the best, his team knows and understands this let us give him the space too. Let him wander off unconcerned if he gets out at 0 or misses an opportunity to book his name in history, he is best paying this way and deserves all the right to do so.