Virender Sehwag revealed that he had nearly retired from ODIs after being dropped by MS Dhoni during the 2008 tri-series in Australia.
He said that Sachin Tendulkar talked him out of the decision, providing some key advice. Sehwag considered one of the greatest ODI players of all time, has scored 8,273 runs at an average of 35.05 and a strike rate of 104.33.
During the 2007-08 series, Sehwag had an underwhelming run, scoring just 81 runs in five matches at an average of 16.20, which forced MS Dhoni to drop him from the lineup.
Speaking to Padamjeet Sehrawat, Virender Sehwag said that he felt that if he wasn’t going to be a part of the team, then he should step away from ODIs.
“In the 2007-08 series against Australia, I played the first three matches and then MS Dhoni dropped me from the side. I wasn’t picked for a while after that. Then I felt that if I can’t be a part of the playing XI, then there was no point in my playing ODI cricket,” said Sehwag.
Virender Sehwag said that he went to talk to Sachin Tendulkar, who immediately told him not to retire. The Master Blaster told Sehwag about going through a similar phase in 1999-2000 and told the former opener it will pass eventually.
Sachin Tendulkar urged Sehwag not to make an emotional call and play for a few more series and come to a decision.
“Then I went to Tendulkar and said, ‘I am thinking of retiring from ODIs’. He said, ‘No, I went through a similar phase in 1999-2000, where I felt I should leave cricket. But that phase came and went. So, you are going through a trough, but it will pass,” said Sehwag.
“Don’t make any decision when you are emotional. Give yourself some time and 1-2 series, and then take a call.’ When that series ended, I played in the next series and made a lot of runs. I played the 2011 World Cup and we won the World Cup as well,” said Sehwag.
He went on to play a major role in India’s World Cup win in 2011. He finally retired from all forms of cricket in October 2015.
