Virender Sehwag, the former Indian cricketer, recently shared a riveting incident from his playing days where he requested Sachin Tendulkar to “save” him from Pakistani fast bowler, Wasim Akram. The incident took place during the 2003 World Cup in South Africa when India was playing Pakistan.
Sehwag revealed that he was not doing well against left-arm fast bowlers and was nervous about facing Akram. He requested Tendulkar to go on strike but Tendulkar refused, citing his superstitions and the advice of his pandit. However, Tendulkar later changed his mind and took a strike, which helped Sehwag to survive against Wasim Akram.
Tendulkar and Sehwag formed one of the most loved and fabled opening pairs in Indian cricket history. They amassed 3919 runs from 93 innings batting together at an average of 42.13 and 12-century stands. The two players started batting together in 2003, mostly during the World Cup in South Africa, where India finished as runners-up. The opening pair of Tendulkar and Sehwag remains one of the most celebrated and loved duos in Indian cricket history, even after all these years.
Sehwag went on to explain that during the India-Pakistan match, Tendulkar decided to take the first strike, which was unusual for him. He said that Tendulkar did this because he was aware of the team’s need for a fast start against the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar. The Indian team had posted a solid 273/7 against Pakistan, and Tendulkar knew that the team needed to make a good start.
Tendulkar’s decision to take the first strike was a crucial one. He punched Akram off the backfoot for his first boundary, signaling that something special was about to unfold. Tendulkar went on to score 98 runs in that match, which is regarded by many as one of his most memorable knocks. The inning was particularly significant as it came in a high-pressure match against India’s arch-rivals Pakistan, and it helped India secure a win.
In the end, Sehwag mentioned that he was grateful to Tendulkar for changing his mind and taking the first strike. This was a significant moment for him as he was able to survive against Akram and make an impactful contribution to the team’s win.