Sehwag: I try to keep things simple

An average of 52.62 after 60 Tests with 15 hundreds - not too many batsmen around the world can boast of something like this. Two of those hundreds were 'triple' (a feat shared by Sir Don Bradman and Brian Lara), and that's Virender Sehwag for you.

There must be some reason why Sehwag was the lone Indian name in ICC's Test Team for the Year for 2007-08. His technique may be still under scrutiny of the purists, but the dashing batsman from New Delhi has never really bothered about it.

Following are the excerpts from an exclusive chat ahead of the challenging home series against Australia:

Gulf News: You are not the one who is obsessed with technique, but is still maintaining a fabulous average after 60 Test matches.

Sehwag: Yes, I am not particularly obsessed with technique, neither with balance or footwork. I like to play to my natural strength. I like to hit the ball, in fact I love it.

I have never changed that approach. People often feel that I do not plan my innings, but that is a wrong perception. Just have a look at my scores and I think everything will be clear. Perhaps, I try to keep things simple and hence people think otherwise.

Is it true that you do not respect bowlers?

No, again it is a mistake. The difference is if I believe I can hit a particular delivery, why shouldn't I ? I do respect bowlers, but I bat against their deliveries, it's nothing personal against them.

Do you think enough about your game?

There is danger in thinking too much about your game. Too much analysis is bad. At least, I believe so. The game is simple. You go there, play the way that comes naturally to you and score runs. And I don't like talking about myself.

What is your philosophy behind hitting a bad ball?

I believe you have to hit the bad balls whenever you get them. If you want to dominate the bowler and break his confidence, you have to hit him. There is no other way.

You were one of the few Indian batsmen who had played Ajantha Mendis comfortably. How could you do so?

See, Mendis is a good bowler. But I had promised to step out against him and hit him for six and I did so during my double century at Galle.

Still, I must admit he is intelligent and awesome. If he could bowl so well without experience, I shudder to think about the day when he is matured!

Did you take the help of technology to counter Mendis?

Everywhere you go nowadays, there is this talk of taking the help of technology. I do not think much of it. See, I did not watch any video of Mendis before playing him. I saw him bowl against Pakistan only once and was there in the middle facing him. You have to back your instincts too.

What were your weapons in countering him or for that matter, any other bowler in world cricket?

A good hand-eye coordination and the ability to read him off the pitch. But then, you are more on the backfoot then and your scoring rate slows down. You might get out too.

Hence, the best way is to read Mendis off the hand but there's no one method to succeed against spinners or pacers.

Andrew Symonds will not be coming to India. Your comments.

I love challenges and his absence will be bad for the game. It will affect the balance of their squad, though that should be good for us. The series, I hope, will not be all about controversies!

Everywhere you go nowadays, there is this talk of taking the help of technology. I do not think much of it. See, I did not watch any video of Mendis before..."