Cheteshwar Pujara may have walked away with all the plaudits for his wonderful performances in the Ahmedabad Test, but the game also saw opener Virender Sehwag striking form after a prolonged lean spell, notching up his first Test ton in two years. It was a typical Sehwag-like attacking knock, which build the foundation for India to post a big first-innings score on the board. The conditions clearly played a big role in helping Sehwag return to the runs. There was hardly any assistance for spinners though. So, even though the Delhi dasher managed to cross the hundred hurdle, he should have been disappointed that he couldn’t go on to convert his century into a big score, something which Pujara did.
It would be unfair to be harsh on Sehwag considering he scored a magnificent ton at Motera. But, assessing the conditions that preceded Sehwag’s hundred, it is important that Sehwag doesn’t rest on his laurels now, and continues to do well for the rest of the series as well. Often Sehwag has a tendency to get satisfied far too easily. At the risk of sounding too critical, one feels thata sense of complacency had crept into the opener’s game at Motera itself. Sehwag’sdismissal in the first innings, when he slogged against the spin was typical Sehwag.
Before getting to his hundred, Sehwag was prepared to hang in at the crease and even wait for some loose balls. As soon as he crossed the much-elusive landmark, Sehwag clearly seemed relieved and this was evident in the manner he eventually got out. In the second innings as well, the daring opening batsman had a chance to make a decent contribution. Of course the game was all but done and dusted by the time Sehwag and Pujara came into bat. But, had Sehwag remained unbeaten at the end, it would have only proved he was hungry.
The reason we are debating Sehwag’s dismissal is because of his continuous run of low scores before the Ahmedabad Test. In 13 Tests between January 1, 2011 and November 20, 2012 that Sehwag has featured in, the opener has managed to score only 778 runs at a low average of 32.41. During this period, he has faced Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies, and has struggled against all of them. Against Australia, he averaged only 24.75 in four Tests, against England 30.50 in three, against New Zealand 42.66 in two (but without a half-century) against South Africa 12 in one and against the Caribbeans 49 in three, but with a highest of only 60.
Sehwag has effectively managed to survive the axe for the rest of the series. However, if he indeed wants to make amends for the poor starts he has given India in the last couple of years, he will need to come up with bigger scores for the rest of the series as well. The Mumbai match will Test his resolve for sure.
--By A Cricket Analyst
