Former Indian batting mainstays Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag developed a lethal opening combination in the 50-over format during their peak. In both the 2003 and 2011 World Cups, India, who went on to win the championship in 2011, were the team’s first-choice openers. The two played a key role in India’s triumphs at the 2011 Cricket World Cup at home.
Virender Sehwag recently shared an amusing memory from when he batted alongside Tendulkar during India’s World Cup group match against South Africa in 2011. The 44-year-old claimed that Tendulkar had a habit of chatting in-between overs, but that he also used to sing because it improved his focus. He continued by saying that Tendulkar had forewarned him that if he kept singing that way, he would lose his mind.
In the 2011 World Cup, South Africa was our opponent. While I was batting, I was singing, and he was also in good form. He had a propensity of talking in between overs, whereas I was completely silent. Only because singing helps me concentrate was I singing. Three further times of this were played. He struck me with a bat after the fourth over, coming at me from behind. Sehwag claimed during his commentary duty on Star Sports for the IPL 2023, “tujhe Kishore Kumar bana dunga agar aise hi gaane gaata raha (I’ll go mad if you keep playing songs like this),” sending fellow commentators Ravi Shastri and Jatin Sapru in splits.
What is there to say while we are doing so well? Virender Sehwag pondered in his head.
The former starter said, “I was thinking to myself that there wasn’t much to talk about given the two batters were having such a terrific combination.” In between overs, he said, Tendulkar wanted to discuss bowlers and their tactics, but he didn’t bother to listen to what he had to say.
“We are batting so well, I thought. Let’s continue. What is there to say? We scored between 140 and 150 runs in 20 overs at the time. When the over is over, he wants to discuss the bowlers and their strategies—basically, everything cricket-related. But I don’t give a damn about that,” he said.
Even though both of India’s openers batted superbly, the team’s lone loss in the campaign came against South Africa. Sehwag scored 73 runs, while Tendulkar scored 111 runs, as they put together a 142-run opening stand.
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