Virender Sehwag names the toughest bowler he faced
Virender Sehwag is renowned as one of the most destructive opening batsmen in the history of cricket. With his sheer flair and attacking approach, he instilled fear in opposition bowlers. Sehwag graced the 22 yards being second to none and had a lasting impact on the sport.
However, when asked about the bowler who troubled him the most in his career, Sehwag asserted the name of Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan. Muralitharan is vastly regarded as one of the greatest bowlers to have spun the ball. Having played 133 Tests, Sri Lanka’s bowling messiah has 800 wickets under his belt. When at home, his numbers are staggering as he scalped 412 wickets in the 59 matches that resulted in a win or draw for Sri Lanka.
Sehwag thus stated that Muralitharan is one of the most lethal bowlers that he faced in his career. He further added that it almost took him seven to eight years to tackle the spinner.
“The most dangerous bowler I played against and who scared me the most was Muttiah Muralitharan. It took me 7-8 years to tackle Murali in international cricket, from 2001-2007. Whenever I used to play against Sri Lanka, I always used to fear Murali,” Sehwag said in an interview with RJ Raunac on YouTube.
Even today if I had to play Murali, I would not sleep at night: Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar played a lot of cricket together. They both stitched in some crucial opening stands for India to fashion the team’s victories. The batter further said that if he is to play the Sri Lankan spinner today it would still disturb his sleep. Opening up further, Sehwag stated that he was unable to read the deliveries of Muralitharan and later Sachin Tendulkar explained to him the way to decode the spinner’s bowling.
“Even today if I had to play Murali, I would not sleep at night. Because his action is so dangerous that I do not understand which one he will put off-spin and which one would be the doosra. Once Sachin Tendulkar told us that when his hand is taken up, his thumb is visible. If the thumb is seen then you can pick up that it is the doosra,” said Sehwag.
