Not Sourav Ganguly, Not MS Dhoni, Anil Kumble My Favorite Captain: Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag, who retired on October 20 from international cricket, said Anil Kumble backed him to the hilt. The Delhi dasher debuted under Sourav Ganguly and played the 2011 World Cup alongside Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Virender Sehwag and the Indian cricket team were at the crossroads in 2007. Sehwag was going through a rough patch and his future in the team was under scrutiny. The Greg Chappell saga and India's early exit from the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies had vitiated the atmosphere in Indian dressing room. Things started to look up with Mahendra Singh Dhoni's arrival in the limited overs side and India won the inaugural World Twenty20 title in South Africa defeating Pakistan. (Virender Sehwag Was a Nightmare for South Africa: Dale Steyn)
In Tests, Rahul Dravid had stepped down from the captaincy and Sachin Tendulkar had declined captaincy. In stepped Anil Kumble to fill the breach. Kumble's arrival began the process of India's resurgence and for Sehwag, it marked a turnaround in his fortunes. The Nawab of Najafgarh remembers how Kumble made a difference to his career. (India vs South Africa: Virender Sehwag's 319 Still the Best)
In an exclusive chat with NDTV on Tuesday, Sehwag said, "Kumble is my favourite captain. No one backed me like he did. Not even Sourav Ganguly or Dhoni." (Blast from the Past: Virender Sehwag Reveals Knock that Got him India Cap)
The stats underline how Sehwag thrived under Kumble's captaincy. In 14 Tests under Kumble's captaincy in 2008 starting from the Perth Test, he smashed 1353 runs at an average of 58.82.
The highlights in that period included a glorious 319 against South Africa in Chennai which was his second triple century, a magnificent, unbeaten 201 against Sri Lanka in Galle where he neutralised Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis.
Ganguly backed Sehwag's bowling skills
Even with the ball, Sehwag was contributing as an off-spinner. In that period, he picked up 15 wickets at an average of 31.66. He chipped in with regular wickets and the high point came in the third Test against Australia in 2008 in New Delhi. In that match, he picked up 5/104, his maiden five-wicket haul in what was Kumble's swansong. It only helped prolong Sehwag's longevity.
When asked whether he could have bowled more, Sehwag said that his primary contribution was to score runs. He credited former India captain Sourav Ganguly for believing his bowling skills.
"Ganguly believed in me as an off-spinner. He let me bowl 10 overs but my primary job was to score runs," Sehwag said.
Sehwag's rebirth was primarily due to the influence of Kumble who let him be what he is. The result was India enjoying Sehwag's destructive power during their golden period.