Former Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has revealed what the aggressive Indian opener Virender Sehwag told him after he got for 293.
Muttiah Muralitharan Praises Sehwag
One of the premium Indian opener Sehwag poses threat for many international bowlers. Muttiah Muralitharan is also one among them which he accepts in many occassions. The legendary spinner recalls one such incident where Sehwag misses his third triple century.
“I remember he was batting on 290 against us in Mumbai and I think it was Rahul Dravid who told him to hang on as he can get to his 300 the next day. The next morning, he tried to tap it but got out caught and bowled and told me ‘I should have never listened to Rahul and instead gone after you’,” Murali told.
It was the third Test of the series between the two teams. Earlier, the Lankans were bowled out for 393.
“Sehwag could understand and read what I was bowling. He says he didn’t read me but what I can say is that he played me in a different manner (than the rest). He was very dangerous. I’ve said this many times,” he added.
“For Sehwag, I would keep fielders because I knew he will take a chance. He thinks, on his day he can attack and take on anybody in the world. So, we would try and set a defensive field and wait for him to make a mistake and give us his wicket.
But Sehwag’s attitude was like ‘I will give myself 2 hours and score 150 runs. If I bat the entire day, I will score 300.’ So he might get out after lunch but by then he would have scored more than a hundred runs. Most of the batsmen batting on 98-99 would look to complete the century by taking singles but Sehwag will go for a six. Sehwag didn’t care whether he got a century or not. He just went for his shots,” Murali added.
