K.I.S.S.

Once when Steve Waugh was asked to describe Virender Sehwag's batting method, he summed it up in four letters: K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid).  Sehwag's batsman-ship is perhaps one of the simplest in the world.  His mantra is 'See ball, Hit ball'.  And with his overflowing confidence, tremendous hand-eye co-ordination and his amazing bat-speed to back up his simple mantra, Sehwag is definitely one of the most devastating opening batsman of our times.

Sehwag is one of the few batsman who remains unaffected by the condition of the pitch, the climate, or the reputations of the bowlers.  The Nawab of Najagarh in his sublime best can disintegrate any bowling unit single handedly.  His feats on the field has left him as a reoccurring nightmare to bowlers, and opposition captains.

Sehwag first entered the international arena as a dasher whose aggressive styles instantly won him popularity.  And now 10 years later, the 31 year old still is a young boy at heart who dismantles bowling attacks of reputations such as Lee,  Muralitharan, Akthar, McGrath, Pollock and Steyn with passion.  Sehwag's aggressive styles does have it's downside, and Sehwag learned about it when he was dropped in 2007 due to some inconsistent performances.   It was during this time when Sehwag learned some valuable lessons.  The hurt of being dropped was evident, and Sehwag soon learned to curb his aggressive instincts just a little bit and started concentrating on his leg-side game.  But after some time in the wilderness, the Nawab walked into the Adelaide to score an imperious 151 against the Australians in their own backyard.  After that the man has never looked back.

Later in the year, Sehwag followed up the century down-under with a splendid triple century in Chennai against the South Africans.  This got him in the record books as the only man after Bradman, and Lara to score two triple centuries. In his next Test series against Sri Lanka, Sehwag thrived while the famed Indian middle-order struggled against the mystery spin of Ajantha Mendis.  He scored a double century in that series.  In the Border-Gavaskar series that followed Sehwag gave India some brisk starts, but his true genius and ingenuity was seen in the first test against the English in the winter.  Sehwag set the platform brilliantly as India chased an improbable 387 runs in the fourth innings.

Sehwag has been in brilliant form and yesterday he showed yet again his amazing ability to weave magic with the bat.  Against a bowling attack containing Muralitharan, Sehwag raced to 286 runs at better than a run a ball.  Sangakara was left in a state of shock and Muralitharan was taken to all parts of the ground.  The world's highest wicket taker was made to look ordinary as he conceded more than 5 runs per over.  Dilip D'Souza described the situation best: "Could this be the first time a Test team has scored nearly 400, gone out to field thinking they are essentially safe in the match, and then watched the 400 reeled in for the loss of a single wicket? I mean, start of the day SL must have felt safe; end of the day they must feel like they are on the fast track to going down 2-0 in the series."  Today he had a chance to make history by becoming the first person to score 3 triple hundreds, but fate had other plans as his tormented took a return catch to dismiss Sehwag just 7 short of a well deserved 300.

Sehwag loves the ball coming onto the bat and ruthlessly attacks fast bowlers.  But his real strength is against the spinners, and it is against the spinners that he is most vulnerable.  Sehwag sometimes goes overboard against the spinners and ends up losing his wicket cheaply.  John Wright once wrote that he just wished that Sehwag would consider spinners as bowlers.

Sehwag is a monster on field who has committed all kinds of atrocities against bowlers.  But off the field, he is a simple, humble, contented man who is never short on self-confidence.  His confidence level is extraordinary.  Sehwag backs himself to hit the ball to the ropes and is not scared to take the risk of hitting it in the air.  Often Sehwag hits the ball straight where the fielder is positioned, and the poor fielder can only watch the ball sail over into the stands.  He goes into every shot knowing he'll clear the fence.  And when on song he can clear any boundary in the world at will.  Sehwag is always seen with a smile and even after falling agonizingly 7 short of his third triple century, he goes and says, "At least 293 runs.  Not many people have got two triple centuries and followed that with 293, So there is nothing to be disappointed about."

Surely, Sehwag is worthy of all adjectives used to describe his wild, innovative, dashing style of play.  Whenever the criticisms come up, Sehwag's bat has talked.  And how it has talked!  More high scores are definitely in store for the Nawab, and I won't be surprised if one day he does beat the record he came so close to pass today.

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Posted in: Ajantha Mendis,Australia,Brett Lee,Columns,cricket,Don Bradman,India,John Wright,Lara,Mc.Grath,Muralirtharan,Sehwag,South Africa,Sri Lanka,Steve Waugh