Pitch the ball anywhere, if he has to smash it, he will. That's Virender Sehwag for you. The famous Indian opener has bulldozed the confidence of many bowlers around the world. But there is also an Indian in the casualty list. And his name is Ravichandran Ashwin.
The Indian mainstay spinner opened up in an interview and said how Sehwag destroyed his confidence after a net practice session.
¡°There was an incident in Dambulla, where every ball that I bowled was hit by him (Virender Sehwag), first ball I bowled outside off stump, Sehwag cut me. Next ball I bowled on off stump, he cuts me. Next ball I bowled on middle stump, he cuts me," he said.
You're wrong if you thought the nightmare had stopped for Ashwin. "The next ball I bowl on leg stump, he again cuts me. So I said 'what the hell is happening'. So I just bowled a ball fuller, Sehwag stepped out and slugged me out for a six,¡± he added.
An eager-to-learn Ashwin went ahead and asked Sehwag ways to improve as a bowler. Sehwag's reply will shock you. "You know what, I don't think off-spinners are bowlers. They do not trouble me at all. I just find it easy smashing them."
Even years after retirement, Sehwag still evokes a lot confidence. A recent example of his high swag level is that he sent a two-line CV to the BCCI to apply for the India coach job.