NEW DELHI:Legendary batsman Virender Sehwag, who recently bid adieu to international cricket today thanked his former skippers – Ajay Jadeja, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble along with batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar – for guiding him during his glorious international career.
Sehwag was today felicitated by the BCCI before the start of the fourth Test match against South Africa at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground here with secretary Anurag Thakur presenting him with a glittering trophy for his achievements.
“I want to thank my first captain Ajay Jadeja and other captains Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble. I want to thank Sachin Tendulkar.” he said in his speech. The swashbuckling opener, however, did not mention limited overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, under whom he played for the national team for almost six years.
Sehwag was accompanied by his mother Krishna Sehwag, wife Aarti and two sons Aryavir and Vedant during the short ceremony. In his brief farewell speech, Sehwag also thanked everyone from BCCI to DDCA to his first coach AN Sharma and Satish Sharma, who first picked him for Delhi U-19s.
“I want to thank my father for allowing me to play the game of cricket and give me freedom to do whatever I wanted to. All my coaches, especially AN Sharma for making me the cricketer I am,” the 37 year old said.
He also had words of gratitude for his close friends, including Delhi U-19 coach Raju Sharma. Sehwag also mentioned about the contribution of the physios and trainers during his 14-year long career. In the end, he thanked the fans for “making him Sehwag”.
“I would like to thank all my fans for standing by me in my good and bad times,” he said. While the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) is yet to name a stand or gallery, the BCCI has temporarily named the far-end stand at the Ambedkar Stadium end as “Viru 319” after the batsman’s highest Test score. (UNI)
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