sachin-tendulkar-virender-sehwag. PC- Getty
sachin-tendulkar-virender-sehwag. PC- Getty

Virender Sehwag has recalled an explosive incident involving Sachin Tendulkar from the India-Pakistan match in the 2003 ICC World Cup which was played in Centurion, South Africa. The epic encounter saw India chase down 274-run target with Tendulkar top-scoring with a brilliant and rapid 98.

Sehwag had opened the innings with Tendulkar in that match after Saeed Anwar’s 101 and contributions from Younis Khan (32) and Rashid Latif (29*) took Pakistan to 273/7 in 50 overs. For India, Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra picked two wickets each, while Javagal Srinath and Dinesh Mongia picked one scalp apiece.

Virender Sehwag had made 21 runs in 14 balls with 3 fours and an unforgettable six off Waqar Younis, the Pakistani captain, as he was cut into the stands over the third man fielder. With Tendulkar struggling with cramps, Sehwag came out as a runner for him.

Virender Sehwag. PC-Twitter
Virender Sehwag. PC-Twitter

Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi Was Abusing Sachin Tendulkar A Lot, But He Remained Focused: Virender Sehwag

Sachin Tendulkar was playing an innings of a lifetime against the likes of Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram, Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq. Razzaq had given Tendulkar a life as he dropped a crucial catch of his off the bowling of Wasim Akram.

Tendulkar had famously smashed Shoaib Akhtar for 18 runs in his first over of the innings, following which Akhtar was removed from the attack in the initial overs of the game. During the later part of his innings, Tendulkar experienced cramps and had to ask for a runner and Sehwag being the quicker one, came out to run for him.

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Sachin Tendulkar and Shahid Afridi. PC- Getty
Sachin Tendulkar and Shahid Afridi. PC- Getty

We knew it was an important game. But Tendulkar was so experienced, he had played so many games against Pakistan.. he knew that he need to be prepared for it. If I have to consider his World Cup knocks, it was his best. I also came to run for him during the game because he was having cramps, and Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi was abusing him a lot, kept saying something or the other. But he remained focused. He knew it was important for him to stay at the crease. He usually doesn’t take a runner, but still he knew that if I come, I will run like he does. There won’t be any misunderstanding,” Sehwag said in a video posted by Star Sports.

In the end, Tendulkar fell to Akhtar’s bouncer for 98 runs, but Rahul Dravid (44*) and Yuvraj Singh (50*) took India home in the 46th over with 6 wickets to spare. Tendulkar was named the Player of the Match for his innings.

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