WATCH: Virender Sehwag shadow bats outside the crease; keeper runs him out
Former India opener Virender Sehwag was usually a sight to behold on a cricket field with his ever-exciting approach to batsmanship and unabashed attitude even against the most fearsome of fast bowlers. But there was one instance where Sehwag went a touch too careless and paid the ultimate prize for it.
The incident recalled here is from 2007. Just prior to the 50-over World Cup in the Caribbean, India were hosting neighbours and longstanding rivals Sri Lanka for a short, four-match series.
During the fourth and final one-dayer – also the series decider – played in Visakhapatnam, Sehwag was displaying his majestic form and characteristically freeflowing avatar in the Indian run-chase till a bizarre run-out led to his downfall.
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Virender Sehwag was out in the most bizarre fashion possible.
When Virender Sehwag got run-out shadow batting
With India chasing 260, Sehwag was as always looking to maximise the early field restrictions and dent the opposition’s confidence right at the beginning of their defence.
The aggressive right-hander blasted seven boundaries in total and raced to the individual score of 46 off 43 deliveries. However, on the 44th ball of his innings, the veteran opening batsman was made to do a long walk back to the pavillion after a shocking dismissal.
As it happened, Virender Sehwag flashed at a ball outside off from paceman Lasith Malinga which quickly rolled across the outfield to the third-man fielder Malinga Bandara.
Recognising that Sehwag and his opening partner Sourav Ganguly have ample time to complete the single, Bandara simply lobbed up the ball to wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara.
Sangakkara also was initially taking things easy and shaping up to direct the ball back to Malinga. But then he saw an opportunity that only a sharp mind like Sangakkara could’ve spotted.
Just when it seemed Sehwag and Ganguly are completing a comfortable single, Sehwag unexpectedly stopped near the crease at the other end and lazily began shadow batting a defensive push. But even before he could complete his stroke, Sangakkara aimed for the stumps and pulled off a direct hit.
Sehwag was caught off guard by the Sri Lankan legend, as even his last-minute attempt to get the foot inside the crease was not good enough to save him.
The Sri Lankans went up in appeal instantly before the on-field umpire sent the matter upstairs. The TV umpire confirmed that Sehwag had fallen short of his ground and he was declared ‘out’ in one of the weirdest dismissals one would come across.
But with his quickfire start, Sehwag had mostly done his job and sent India on the path to secure a comprehensive win by seven wickets and clinch the series 2-1, with the opening one-dayer in Kolkata ending in a no result.