Sri Lankan bowlers can take heart from indian opener's poor record in ODI finals
Sri Lankan bowlers can take heart from indian opener's poor record in ODI finals
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Virender Sehwag during a practice session at the Sher-e Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka yesterday. India and Sri Lanka play the final of the Tri-Nation tournament today. PIC/AFP |
Given the caning he's given them in recent times, Virender Sehwag's return for the Tri Nation final to be played in Dhaka will be dreadful news for the Sri Lankan camp. But, we have some figures which will for sure calm the nerves of Kumar Sangakkara's bowlers and stump the expert analysts.
For all his ability to unnerve opponents and a record to prove that he thrives under pressure, surprisingly Sehwag somehow has developed cold feet in the finals of one-day tournaments.
In his 16 career finals from the July 2001 to July 2008, Sehwag aggregates 423 runs at an average 30.21. He has yet to score a hundred and his highest score remains the 82 he made in the 2003 World Cup final against Australia at Johannesburg. He has scored two more fifties, 75 against New Zealand at Harare in 2005 and 60 against Sri Lanka at Karachi in the Asia Cup final in July 2008.
Overall Sehwag aggregates 6994 runs in 218 matches at an average of 34.28 with 12 hundreds and 35 half-centuries.
Sehwag sat out the last two games in the tournament. The Indian vice-captain did not join practice on Saturday and was not seen with the team on Sunday and Monday but turned up today for an optional net session along with four other team-mates. Allaying fears that he was indisposed, Sehwag said he was raring to go for the final.
"There was no problem. I will play in the final and I hope I will do well to win the series," said the dashing opener who has scored 47 and 9 in the two matches he had played here. "I was only being rested. I am feeling fresh after the break. It has given a chance to the youngsters and Dinesh Karthik appeared in good nick in both the games," he added, after having around a two-hour net session at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium indoor facilities along with Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
While Chanaka Welegedara & Co will take heart from the Indian batsman's past record, the Lankan bowlers will be aware that form, analysis and predictions all count for nothing when you are dealing with Sehwag.
