Sehwag, Yuveraj grab all attention

By S. Dinakar

COLOMBO, AUG. 3. There they were, spending time with the boys from the Ratmalana School for the Deaf. The heroes of the Indian revival were now in the midst of something bigger than any game. Providing happiness and joy to those less fortunate than them.

Virender Sehwag and Yuveraj Singh played cricket with the youngsters at the Taj Samudra Hotel lawns here, a day after India, scripting a remarkable recovery, had entered the final of the Coca Cola triangular series.

``You don't have to teach them anything. Look at their stance. It's perfect,'' says Yuveraj. ``You see them and then you realise, how important it is to keep fighting in life. Never give up,'' adds Sehwag.

Yuveraj and Sehwag have themselves come through tests of fire on the cricket field, beating back the self-doubts, staying positive and banking on their natural ability to carry them through troubled times.

Sehwag's debut against Pakistan in Mohali, '99, was not really a productive one, the stroke-maker was trapped leg- before by Shoaib Akhtar for nought. And then, after fighting hard, he won back his place, bagged the Man of the Match award for his exciting half century and useful off-spin bowling in ODI against Australia this year, but broke a finger in the same game.``It was difficult, It was happy one moment and sad the next.''

Yuveraj has gone through a whole gamut of emotions in the last 12 months, his booming strokes in the ICC Knock-out tournament game against Australia was quickly forgotten after a string of lacklustre performances. Worse, his attitude came under scrutiny.

Now, both, have struck back. Yuveraj's invaluable unbeaten 98 at the crunch situation against Sri Lanka, and Sehwag's believe-it- or-not 70-ball hundred that swept aside the Kiwis, meant the young guns had boomed for India when it mattered the most.

Earlier, when India was on the brink of elimination, skipper Sourav Ganguly had been critical of the youngsters for not grabbing the opportunities that came their way. Sehwag and Yuveraj certainly seem to have got the message. And the two are now thankful to their captain for continuing to believe in them.

Sehwag had a pleasant surprise waiting for him when he got back to his room following his memorable hundred. It was a message from Sachin Tendulkar which read, ``Great innings, keep it up, do it again in the final.'' Words that have inspired the 22-year-old Delhi cricketer. ``We might have lost the earlier ones, but we are going to win this final.''

The injury to the Mumbai Maestro, coupled with the failure of Yuveraj (in the opening slot) and Amay Khurasiya meant Sehwag was walking out with Ganguly at the start of the innings. ``I did not feel any pressure. Sourav told me to go for my shots and said he would rotate the strike. I never thought I would open for India, I am happy to have got the chance. When Sachin returns, I will be in the middle-order.''

A simple person from a rural background, Sehwag, whose father Krishan owns a flour mill in Nijafgarh, admits the significance of the effort sank in only after the knock. ``That just happened. I wonder whether I can produce a similar hundred again. I think such innings happen once in a lifetime.''

The shy youngster confesses he knew about missing Mohammed Azharuddin's Indian record for the quickest ODI hundred by a whisker only when he got back to the dressing room. ``Records don't matter. The important thing is India won. Otherwise what is the use.''

He admits to being a touch nervous about the first delivery - he was trapped leg-before by Lankan paceman Chaminda Vaas off the opening ball of the previous game - but adds once he thumped seamer Kyle Mills through the covers, his combative juices were flowing again. The stroke he picks as his best amongst an astonishing nineteen fours and a six.

Yuveraj has an uncomplicated answer when you ask him about his reaction to criticism from the media. ``You do well people will write nice things about you. Otherwise, they will come down on you. I accept it. The lesson I have learnt from the game is, ``Don't put your head down. Always keep it up.''

And what went through the southpaw's mind when he entered the SSC ground with India reeling at 38 for four. ``Nothing, I just kept my mind blank. If you think about pressure you are gone. Just played my normal cricket.''

Yuveraj's left-arm spin has served India well in the tournament, and he reveals his stint at the National Cricket Academy, Bangalore, prior to the tour helped him. ``Before that I was bowling from wide of the crease. Now I operate closer to the wicket. I am able to get more bounce.'' And Sehwag, a handy one- day off-spinner himself says, ``I just concentrate on the dot balls.'' It is with the bat though that they have hogged the headlines. Sunday's final will be another Big Test, and they are ready. Those delightful boys from Ratmalana will be watching them with keen interest too.

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