This is how Ganguly convinced Sehwag to open for India
What's the story
Former Indian swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag was well-known for his ruthless attacking approach from the word go. However, this was not the case, earlier on in his career. Talking about his early days, Sehwag has revealed that it was then Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly, who convinced him to open for India. He also shared the inspirational story of how he managed to do it.
Pivotal Ganguly
Ganguly played pivotal role in pushing Sehwag as an opener
Reliving the pivotal moment, Sehwag revealed that Ganguly played a huge role in pushing him as an opener, as the latter asked him one day, out of blue, to open. However, Sehwag was not convinced as he felt he wasn't up for the task. He even asked Ganguly why can't the captain open himself, when even Sachin Tendulkar used to open.
No vacancy
India didn't have any vacancy for Sehwag in the middle-order
Sehwag further explained that since there was a vacant opening spot available, Ganguly urged him to take it up, as the same was not there in the middle-order at that moment. "In case I was against the idea and wanted to stick to the middle order, he explained, I would have to wait for someone to get injured," he further noted.
Do you know?
Ganguly was not ready to drop Sehwag so easily, however
"I will give you three to four innings as an opener. Even if you fail, you will continue to play. And before I drop you, I will again give you a chance in the middle (order)," Sehwag said what Ganguly had stated back then.
Quote
Whatever I am today, it is because of him: Sehwag
"It was very fair treatment. It's this clarity that makes a player trust his captain. That gave me a lot of confidence. I thought, Dada is backing me so much, so let me try. Whatever I am today, it is because of him," Sehwag concluded.
Sehwag as opener
Some records held by Sehwag as an opener
Following are some of the records held by Sehwag as an opener: He is the only opener to have scored more than 7,500 runs in both Tests and ODIs. He has the highest ODI strike-rate among openers with more than 2,000 runs. He has also scored the most number of runs in international cricket as an opener (16,119).