Sehwag, the gladiator

He was expected to be the first man to breach the 200-run barrier in
the ODIs. However, Sachin Tendulkar beat him to the mark last year.

Not to be left behind, Virender Sehwag overtook his idol's perfect 200
with a 219, which is now the highest individual score in the ODIs,
against West Indies on Thursday. Little wonder that India won the
match by 153 runs.

The first double hundred took more than three decades to happen, the
second took less than two years.

After Tendulkar's masterpiece in Gwalior last year, Sehwag sprinkled
the achievement with a dash of coincidence by scoring it in the same
state — Madhya Pradesh — both venues within 500kms of each other.

Off the third ball of the 44th over, Sehwag, batting on 197, cut Andre
Russel through the point. While turning to take a second run, the
batsman saw the ball cross the rope and celebrated by punching the
air.

A spectator ran down the pitch to present a bouquet to Sehwag, who
politely refused to take it. However, he graciously accepted the
standing ovation by about 30,000 strong crowd present at the Holkar
Stadium and raised his bat to show his gratitude and share his joy
that the second man in the exclusive 200-run club is also an Indian.

Though Sehwag made the whole innings look effortless, it was hardly
so. He had come into this game under severe criticism for his recent
poor run. His last century was the 175 — in the World Cup opener
against Bangladesh in February. Since then, the Sehwag brand of
batting had seen a slump.

However, on Thursday, when he took the guard, he was his usual self —
seemingly casual, carefree and classy. He had promoted his pal Gautam
Gambhir to open the batting with him.

While not many would have imagined of a double hundred, most wanted at
least a half-century to get his magical touch back before the
Australia tour. The openers enjoyed a 176-run stand and rubbished all
the criticisms.

Sehwag was simply murderous and unapologetic towards his opponents.
Whatever opportunity he got was either caressed through the covers or
hammered over the long on for sixes. He cut, drove and pulled with
sheer elegance. He bludgeoned 25 boundaries and seven sixes.

Luck seemed to have deserted Sehwag off late as most of his favourite
shots like the square cuts and lofts landed straight into fielders'
hands, however, on Thursday, the Delhi Dasher saw his shots sail over
long on boundary three times and one over the third man fence.

He even got his big slice of good luck when Darren Sammy dropped a
sitter at extra cover of Rampaul in the 38th over over. If the rival
captain had held on to the catch, Sehwag would have walked back with
his score at 170.

Having got a life, Sehwag made it count and went on plundering runs
before he miscued one to the long on. However, by then he had provided
the best possible entertainment.

Though Sehwag appeared tired in the latter stages of his knock, he was
as agile and fit as he was on the first ball he faced.

With this knock, Sehwag has lived up to his billing as the most
dangerous batsman and demolished criticism about his batting in the
ODIs. All the doubting Thomases cantake a walk!