Virender Sehwag Reveals How Anil Kumble Supported Him During India's Tour Of Australia In 2007/08

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag recalled how Anil Kumble supported him during his rough patch. During the Australia tour in 2007/08, Sehwag struggled to score runs in Test cricket, yet Anil Kumble, who was then India captain, backed the Delhi batter to open the innings.

Anil Kumble told me to have a little more patience: Virender Sehwag

Going down the memory lane, Sehwag said that at that point, India had many options with the likes of Wasim Jaffer and Aakash Chopra to open, but Kumble wanted someone who could exploit against the Australian bowling attack.

“When I was traveling with him (Anil Kumble) in the team going to Australia, I asked why did you pick me? You had other options. He replied that Wasim Jaffer, Dinesh Karthik, Aakash Chopra and Rahul Dravid are all players of one category.

“They will play 200 balls and score a century. But I need such an opener who can go to Australia and answer them, play like them,” Sehwag said in a video posted on his official Facebook page.

“Anil bhai told me just one thing, since you have waited so long, have a little more patience. I got a chance to play after 2 matches. I played in Perth and got off to a good start. Didn’t score much, only 20-30 runs in both innings and took 2 wickets, and we won that match. But the beginning was good,” he added.

Virender Sehwag scored 151 against Australia in Adelaide Test

Sehwag was initially dropped in the first two Tests but was added to the team in the final two matches.

Sehwag scored 63 and 151 in the Adelaide Test that ended in a draw which made him pay his captain’s faith. However, India lost the four-match Test series 1-2.

Sehwag played 104 Test matches for India scoring 8586 runs at an average of 49.34, and is the only Indian player to score a triple-hundred twice.

Sehwag declared his retirement from all forms of cricket in October 2015.

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