Virender Sehwag, one of the few batsmen who looked as if one of the most difficult arts that are known to mankind was as easy as he lets it look , has announced his retirement via twitter with immediate effect, after he was waiting in the wings for another chance, without success. He was known for the way that he could dominate bowlers, and although he was accused of being reckless at times … that and the age that he had, were the main reason that he was overlooked once again by the selectors, and why they choose for more younger ones.
Sehwag denied reports that he called it time when he was quizzed after there were thought that earlier he could be recalled, but admitted that he was mulling over it. After talking over it with his family, when spending time with them, he wrote on twitter that he would call it quits over all formats at the highest level.
Reports said that although his time was done with the luxurious Indian Premier League, he would continue to take a part in his state team, to spur them on to success once more. Known for the calm head that he had when he was under pressure, and the sense for humour off the field, he played an integral part in that he provided India the best chance to get themselves on the winning side.
“I have always done what I felt was right and not what conformists thought to be right. God has been kind and I have done what I wanted to do,” Sehwag said in a statement, one that led to much praise for the deeds that he had done.
“Cricket has been my life and continues to be so. Playing for India was a memorable journey and I tried to make it more memorable for my team-mates and the Indian cricket fans.”
“I also want to thank everyone for all the cricketing advice given to me over the years and apologise for not accepting most of it,” he joked on Tuesday. “I had a reason for not following it: I did it my way!”
There was thought that Sehwag’s habit of releasing his true potential too early and that is why the selectors were hesitant to try out how he would do in the test arena. He was already well-established by the time that he was given a chance in 2001 to prove that he could handle the way to construct the way that only in the longest format of the game must be constructed.
But luckily they chose him, and he soon played an influential role for them, getting to be the cornerstone of their success, by opening for the first time in 2002. That served him well to be the calming head behind the scenes as they achieved success that identified them as a threat to be reckoned with.
Sehwag played a role that saw him as one of the reasons why they broke a drought, and lifted the World Cup in 2011 on home soil.
The flamboyancy that he had, and the way in which he could take even the most feared attacks apart in the blink of an eye made him a threat if it was his day, and more often than not it was. He could be inconsistent, but when the ball came onto the bat the way he wanted to, he posed a threat that has made his retirement all the more of a blow. Audios to a legend that transformed the way that India thought and the impact that they had to be what they are. You will be missed. Enjoy a break, because you earned it.