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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Sachin Tendulkar intervened when MS Dhoni's act almost pushed Virender Sehwag to retire: 'Don't make emotional decision'
Virender Sehwag is widely regarded as one of cricket's most destructive openers. He is famed for revolutionising the role with fearless aggression, with his arrival marking a shift from a traditionally defensive approach to the art of opening in limited-overs cricket. Sehwag enjoyed a fruitful international career that saw him break multiple run-scoring records and also played key roles in India's multiple ICC triumphs. Sachin Tendulkar advised Virender Sehwag against early retirement(AFP/Files) However, the former opener has now revealed that there came a turbulent phase in his career when he came dangerously close to retiring from ODI cricket in 2007/08, only to be persuaded otherwise by batting legend Sachin Tendulkar. The revelations came during Sehwag's appearance on Padamjeet Sehrawat's podcast, where he recounted the emotional rollercoaster he endured during India's tri-nation series in Australia and Sri Lanka. Sehwag recalled the frustration that set in after being dropped from the side by then-captain MS Dhoni following the first three matches of the series. 'In the 2007-08 series against Australia, I played the first three matches and then MS Dhoni dropped me from the side. I wasn't picked for a while after that. Then I felt that if I can't be a part of the playing XI, then there is no point in playing ODI cricket,' Sehwag admitted. Frustrated and ready to walk away, Sehwag approached Tendulkar to share his decision, seeking guidance from someone he deeply respected. 'I went to Tendulkar and said, 'I am thinking of retiring from ODIs'. He said, 'No. I went through a similar phase in 1999-2000, where I felt I should leave cricket. But that phase came and went. You are going through a trough, but it will pass. Don't make any decision when you are emotional. Give yourself some time and 1-2 series, and then take a call,'' Sehwag recalled. Taking Tendulkar's advice to heart proved the turning point. Sehwag returned to the Indian side, delivering match-winning performances in the subsequent series and eventually playing a crucial role in India's 2011 World Cup triumph. Over his illustrious ODI career, Sehwag went on to play 251 matches, amassing 8,273 runs at an average of 35.05, with a strike rate of 104.33, including 15 centuries and 38 fifties. Sehwag on his son's budding career Sehwag also spoke about his son Aryaveer, who has shown promise in cricket and was selected for Delhi's U-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy squad in December 2023. Acknowledging the inevitable comparisons that come with being a famous parent, Sehwag advised his son not to succumb to pressure. 'That pressure will always be on you, but you should not take that pressure. Pressure is something that you give, not take… Hope he goes on to play either for India or the Ranji Trophy,' Sehwag said.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
'Don't make decision when you're emotional' — Virender Sehwag reveals Sachin Tendulkar stopped him from ODI retirement in 2008
File Pic: Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar NEW DELHI: Former India opener Virender Sehwag has revealed that he came close to retiring from ODI cricket in 2007-08, only to be convinced otherwise by batting legend Sachin Tendulkar . Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Speaking on Padamjeet Sehrawat's podcast, Sehwag recalled the turbulent phase during India's tri-nation series against Australia and Sri Lanka Down Under, when he was dropped from the side by captain MS Dhoni after the first three matches. Poll Do you think Sehwag made the right decision to continue playing ODIs? Absolutely! Not really. 'In the 2007-08 series against Australia, I played the first three matches and then MS Dhoni dropped me from the side. I wasn't picked for a while after that. Then I felt that if I can't be a part of the playing XI, then there is no point in playing ODI cricket,' Sehwag said. Frustrated and ready to walk away, Sehwag approached Tendulkar to share his decision. What followed was a conversation that changed the course of his career. 'I went to Tendulkar and said, 'I am thinking of retiring from ODIs'. He said, 'No. I went through a similar phase in 1999-2000, where I felt I should leave cricket. But that phase came and went. You are going through a trough, but it will pass. Don't make any decision when you are emotional. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Are You From Bangladesh? You Might Qualify For AI Courses Artificial Intelligence Course | Search Ad Undo Give yourself some time and 1-2 series, and then take a call.'' Sehwag took the advice to heart, returned to the side, scored heavily in the following series, and went on to play a crucial role in India's 2011 World Cup-winning campaign. Sehwag went on to play 251 ODIs for India, amassing 8,273 runs at an average of 35.05 and a strike rate of 104.33, including 15 centuries and 38 fifties. Sehwag's message for son Ayraveer The former opener also spoke about his son Aryaveer's budding cricket journey. Selected for Delhi's U-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy squad in December 2023, Aryaveer, Sehwag said, would inevitably face comparisons but should not take on undue pressure. 'That pressure will always be on you, but you should not take that pressure. Pressure is something that you give, not take… Hope he goes on to play either for India or the Ranji Trophy ,' Sehwag remarked. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
5 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Turning point: Arc-angels spot a cricketing talent, Ludhiana U19 offie on flighted delivery to Australia.
Ludhiana: Here's the art few can discern, the patient craft of flight and turn. At just 17, right-arm off-spinner Anmoljeet Singh is being tipped as one of India's brightest young cricketing prospects, earning a place on the national under-19 squad for its upcoming tour of Australia. Anmoljeet, inspired by cricket legend Harbhajan Singh , began playing at age seven before joining a Ludhiana academy under coach Harbhajan Kala. Initially a fast bowler and batsman, he was steered by Kala toward off-spin — a move that proved pivotal. Kala describes him as a "natural talent" destined to be a key asset for India's future squads. The teenager's record speaks for itself. In the Vijay Merchant Trophy, he claimed 65 wickets in nine matches, surpassing the previous record of 62. His performances earned him selection for the BCCI's Under-19 tour of India against Australia, where he took nine wickets, and for the Under-19 tour of the UK, where India won the series. The BCCI also honoured him with a Naman Award for being the tournament's highest wicket-taker. Now preparing for matches in Australia, Anmoljeet has his sights set on the Under-19 World Cup. His ultimate ambition is to represent India at senior international level. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas Prices In Dubai Might Be More Affordable Than You Think Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Quote Undo Support at home has been unwavering. His father, Balwinder Singh, encouraged him to pause his education to focus fully on cricket, believing sports had time limits that academics did not. "Once he achieves his goal of playing for India, he can return to his studies," Balwinder said. For Anmoljeet, the choice was clear. "I couldn't focus on both studies and sport at the same time, so I gave my priority to cricket," he said. He plans to resume his education from Class X after key cricketing milestones. Coach Kala remains confident in his pupil's trajectory. "Anmoljeet will continue to grow and excel," he said, "and could be among the best off-spinners for India". In the words of cricket poet Arthur Salway: "Soccer is won with cultured feet and rugger with... grist; but when cricket is played the difference is made by a delicate turn of the wrist." Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Hindustan Times
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: Amarjit Singh Mehta re-elected PCA president
Amarjit Singh Mehta was re-elected the president of the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) at its annual general body meeting held at the New Chandigarh stadium on Saturday. From left : PCA joint secretary Siddhant Sharma, vice-president Deepak Bali, president Amarjit Singh Mehta, secretary Kulwant Singh and treasurer Sunil Gupta. (HT PHOTO) The other office-bearers are: Deepak Bali (vice-president), Kulwant Singh (secretary), Siddhant Sharma (joint secretary) and Sunil Gupta (treasurer). Electoral officer Rajeev Sharma (IAS retd) said all office-bearers have been elected unopposed for the upcoming three-year term. Kulwant Singh is the AAP MLA from Mohali while Deepak Bali is adviser to the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Board. Sunil Gupta, a businessman from Bathinda, is the vice-chairman of the Punjab Economic Policy and Planning Board, with the rank and status of cabinet minister. Gupta said the PCA general body has unanimously approved all agenda items, including the T20 league Sher-e-Punjab Tournament for the 2025-2026 season. Eleven apex council members were also elected during the meeting. They are Arminder Singh, Rajat Bhardwaj, Chanchal Kumar Singla, Amit Bajaj, Birdevinder Singh Natt, Prabhir Singh Brar, Gauravdeep Singh Dhaliwal, Kamal Kumar Arora, Amrinder Vir Singh Barsat, Sahebjit Singh Sehmby and Vikram Kumar. Players felicitated On the occasion, PCA felicitated players and coaches who brought laurels to Punjab in different tournaments. Uday Pratap Saharan, skipper of the U-23 men's team, and head coach VRV Singh were honoured for winning the Col CK Nayudu Trophy, the U-23 State-A Trophy and the Col CK Nayudu Trophy vs Rest of India. Umesh Gill, skipper of the U-16 men's team, and head coach RP Singh were feted for leading the team to the runners-up position in the Vijay Merchant Trophy. Jyoti, captain of the Punjab U-15 women's team, and coach Yograj were honoured for guiding the team to runners-up spot in the one-day tournament this season.
The Hindu
08-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Promising youngsters get a raw deal at Kerala Cricket League auction
The player auction for the second season of the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) left many junior cricketers in the State disappointed and it raised serious questions about the aim of the fledgling league in promoting talent. Twenty-three players, who represented the State in Cooch Behar Trophy, Col. C.K. Nayudu Trophy or Vijay Merchant Trophy, went unsold in the auction. The notable omission being Mohammed Enaan, the India under-19 player currently touring England. Manav Krishna, who was chosen as the Promising Player in the NSK Trophy T20 tournament, also went unsold. Abi Biju, S. Abhiram, Kamil Aboobacker, Kiran Sagar and Rohan Nair were among the players who found no buyers. Of the 49 players registered in Category B with base price of ₹1.5 lakh, only 16 were picked by the teams while 49 out of the 84 players in Category C with a base price of ₹75,000 were traded in the auction. The auction threw up surprises like 42-year-old K.J. Rakesh, who served as junior selector last season, getting picked while many promising youngsters were overlooked. 'The teams splurged money to buy Category A players and exhausted half of their purse. They then looked for cheaper players in Category C, sidestepping Category B players. The KCA made a mistake by not allowing unsold players in Category B to be traded along with Category C players at a reduced base price like it did with Category A players. Most of the coaches of the franchises teams were based abroad and weren't familiar with the local talent,'' said Biju George, former Indian women team's fielding coach and current talent scout of Kolkata Knight Riders. The KCA secretary Vinod S. Kumar admitted the mistake and said the association will make it mandatory for the team to pick a fixed number of Category B players from next season onwards. 'We didn't foresee such a scenario this season. The bidding for Category A players left the teams short of money and some barely managed to buy the minimum number of 16 players. For the next season we are thinking of making it mandatory for the teams to pick up a fixed number of players from Category B and even allowing Category B players to be sold along with Category C players at a reduced price. Those at the auction table should not be parochial. The teams also picked some players who either failed the yo-yo test or missed it. I must admit the bidding wasn't fair on some players. The KCL will have some initial flaws which we will rectify in due course of time,'' said Vinod.
