DETERMINED SEHWAG SLOGS IT OUT IN HIS COMEBACK BID

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

March 26, 2013: GOING by his daily practice regime, Virender Sehwag seems more determined than ever before in his bid to stage a comeback to the Indian team.

An intensely focused Sehwag is slugging it out in the field these days, running and polishing his batting, and, at times, spending up to one-and- a-half hours in the state- of- the- art gymnasium in the basement of his Hauz Khas home to improve his fitness.

Sehwag is also practising at his alma mater, Jamia Millia Islamia, where Delhi Daredevils are having a camp these days.

He is practicing with white Kookaburra balls as the same brand is being used for both the T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which began on March 18, and the IPL, starting on April 3.

Sources close to Sehwag, ignored for the last two Tests of the series against Australia, say he is practicing daily and with “a clear mind-set” as to which areas of his batting he has to improve.

 “Viru is very clear in his mind as to what he’s trying to do and achieve. He has a point of view, and he’s trying to consolidate his strong points and improve upon what he sees as the weak areas,” coach Ajay Verma, who has been assisting Sehwag by providing him bowlers and space at his academy, told MAIL TODAY.

Sehwag, 34, faces up to 300 throw- downs in one session and bats up to one hour in a single net session, besides trying to improve his running between the wickets with specific drills.

Amar Nath Sharma, Sehwags coach since his school days, says hed do well to draw inspiration from the hard work he did in the 2007 summer after being dropped from the Test team for the first time on performance.

“I’ve never seen anyone practice as hard as Viru did in two months that summer. If he catches the same lai aur taal (rhythm) again, nothing like it,” Sharma told MAIL TODAY. “But he’s a few years older now and will have to work harder as competition is tougher now and there are at least three players vying for each spot.”

Sehwag can also draw inspiration from year 2008, when he staged a roaring comeback after missing 10 Tests in 2007. It turned out to be the best calendar year of his career as he amassed 1,462 runs at 56.23 in 14 Tests.

“If India ignore him for the South Africa tour in November- December, it’ll be very difficult for the team,” warns Sharma. “Viru is an attacking batsman and he would be needed against their strong pace attack.”

But before that tour, India will play an ODI tri- series in the West Indies from June 28, also involving Sri Lanka, and Sehwag will naturally try to retain his ODI spot by performing well for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL, beginning on April 3.