Mumbai: Virender Sehwag kept the promise he made to his son when he blasted his way to a terrific 58-ball 122 which powered Kings XI Punjab to a mammoth 226 for six in the second IPL Qualifier here on Saturday.
Moments after hitting only the second century of IPL VII, Sehwag revealed that he had told his son he would score runs in the remaining matches while talking to him a few days back.
“Other day my wife called up and my son [Aryaveer] took the phone and said ‘Papa why are you getting out? My friends in school tease me that Your papa is not scoring runs’. I told him beta [son] there are matches and I will score don’t worry,” Sehwag said.
Sehwag, who had scored a hundred in the 2011 edition for Delhi Daredevils against Deccan Chargers, entertained the Wankhede crowd with eight sixes and 12 fours. Mumbai Indians’ Lendl Simmons had scored the first century of this season when he scored an unbeaten 100 against Punjab.
One of the most senior players in the team, Sehwag said he was not able to concentrate on his batting as he had to guide youngsters.
“I told them that you play the way you like and let me focus on my game. I need to win at least one game for KXIP,” he said.
The opener compared coach Sanjay Bangar to former India coach Gary Kirsten, who was in charge when the team triumphed in the 2011 World Cup.
“Our coach Sanjay Bangar did a fantastic job. He motivated everybody. If you compare Sanjay Bangar with Gary Kirsten, he is equally good. He is as calm as Gary was,” Sehwag said at the post-match conference.
“My one innings was due but when it would come I didn’t know. If it came at a good time like the playoffs, you know if you don’t play well you would be out of the tournament. My conscious effort was that I play well and give a good performance and try to help my team win,” he said.
“The performance came after a long time. Everybody was expecting when I was out of the team, everybody was hoping I would score hundred and double hundred in first class cricket but that didn’t happen. When your time is not good, you can’t do anything. I was doing everything right but I was not able to score runs. Today was maybe my day and I just told myself Chennai should pay for my day,” he added.
The Delhi player said he wants to work on his technique. “My technique is not that great so I have to correct it. I have to back myself, I have to believe in myself and go out there and give my 100 per cent. If I click then the other team has to pay and if I don’t click then our team has to pay.”
Sehwag said he has told hard-hitting Australian batsman Glenn Maxwell that he should also focus on playing Test cricket.
“I told him that Test cricket is the best cricket. If he wants to make his name, then he has to play Test cricket. He is very keen and he will go back score runs in domestic cricket or in international cricket whenever he gets a chance,” he added.
