{"id":2086,"date":"2011-04-22T10:54:57","date_gmt":"2013-08-11T16:57:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cricketcountry.com\/?p=2086"},"modified":"2014-03-21T11:46:39","modified_gmt":"2014-03-21T06:16:39","slug":"the-sehwag-conundrum-in-twenty20-is-hurting-delhi-daredevils-big-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cricketcountry.com\/articles\/the-sehwag-conundrum-in-twenty20-is-hurting-delhi-daredevils-big-time-2086\/","title":{"rendered":"The Sehwag conundrum in Twenty20 is hurting Delhi Daredevils big time"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Virender
Virender Sehwag and Delhi Daredevils are in a big slump \u00a9 AFP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Jamie Alter<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Virender Sehwag<\/a> is aware of the thin line separating success and failure: “Half empty or half full; a cover-drive for four or disaster. Praise will come when you do well. So, be prepared for brickbats when you fail. You are learning from both. Success prepares me well for the failures,” he once said when asked if he would consider changing his maverick ways.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Currently, Sehwag and his Delhi Daredevils<\/a> (DD) are in a big slump. The team languishes at the bottom of the league table, with one win from four matches, and it has been a disappointing run for Sehwag. He has only managed 72 runs at 18.00 and has struggled to get starts.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For all his greatness in Test cricket and success in one-day cricket, Sehwag has remained an average Twenty20 batsman. In 14 Twenty20s for India<\/a>, he averages 24.07 with just two fifties. As a strike-rate of 153.43 indicates, he doesn\u2019t waste much time. In all Twenty20, Sehwag averages a marginally better 25.86, at a strike-rate of 158.88, and with 11 half-centuries. Those numbers just don\u2019t add up to arguably the most devastative batsman since one Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Considering his swashbuckling ways, it\u2019s odd that Sehwag has been unable to strike fear in opposition bowlers in Twenty20 the way he has in Tests and ODI<\/a>s. It is almost as if the lesser the time, the harder Sehwag tries to hit and that has resulted in muddled innings. When playing for India, Sehwag has rescued his team out of many a hole, but not so in the IPL<\/a>. And that is hurting DD badly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Twenty20 doesn\u2019t lend itself much to analysis, but what stands out is the half-hearted ways in which Sehwag manages to dismiss himself. It is rarely a good ball that gets Sehwag out. He doesn\u2019t seem to be enjoying batting the way he does in Tests. In Delhi\u2019s first match, against Mumbai Indians<\/a>, Sehwag found himself playing out a maiden over against Man-of-the-Match Lasith Malinga<\/a> in an attempt to shield the newcomers. He succeeded in playing out six scoreless balls, but was run out moments later attempting a risky single off the fourth ball of an over when, considering DD were 27 for two. A bit more watchfulness wouldn\u2019t have been amiss. Sehwag knew it too, looking skywards and shutting his eyes before he trudged back to the dugout.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Against Rajasthan Royals<\/a>, Sehwag cracked his first ball for four and then hopped back and slashed at the second to edge to slip. Thirty-seven off 23 balls followed as DD ultimately chased down a stiff 188. But, again, after getting a start, Sehwag perished to a half-hearted shot – that too against Jesse Ryder.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the last match, against Deccan Chargers<\/a>, Sehwag slammed three consecutive fours and then, trying to blaze his way out of a slump, slashed one to cover. It was frustrating to watch because having just hammered three boundaries he could have afforded to not chase that particular delivery.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So what\u2019s gone wrong? Sehwag\u2019s story is he\u2019s been playing in the same fashion for 12 years and isn\u2019t reading too much into his form and his team\u2019s woes. If that is the case, his recent slump isn\u2019t a very big deal and he could still come back as strong as ever.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But Sehwag\u2019s poor run of form in the IPL isn\u2019t a new matter. In the 2009 edition in South Africa <\/a>he managed just one half-century. He then decided to step down from the captaincy having led Delhi to two semi-finals (2008 and 2009), with the team qualifying for the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League. The idea was to relieve some pressure and find form with the bat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In 2010 he was the team\u2019s highest run scorer, but only managed three half-centuries in 14 matches. Overall, DD were very poor in IPL 3. Then Gautam Gambhir<\/a> was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders<\/a> and Sehwag was the only player retained by DD. He had to become captain again. It clearly isn\u2019t working.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As one of only two batsmen \u2013 fellow opener David Warner the other \u2013 who have played for DD previously, Sehwag has a responsibility to lead the new-look side out of trouble. Until Sehwag finds form, DD will struggle. Such is his impact. It is still early days, what with DD having ten matches to play, but getting Sehwag to peak form is their biggest test. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(Jamie Alter<\/strong><\/a> is a freelance cricket writer, having worked at ESPNcricinfo and All Sports Magazine. His first book, The History of World Cup Cricket, is out now. His twitter feed is @jamie_alter) <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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