Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) had bought former Indian batter Virender Sehwag as an icon player before Indian Premier League 2008. Also named the captain of the side, the move lasted for only a couple of seasons. In September 2009, Sehwag had expressed a desire to not lead the national side only to announce his decision to quit as Delhi’s captain 13 days later.
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It was a surprising decision by the skipper as Daredevils had finished as the table-toppers with 10 wins in 14 IPL 2009 league matches. However, Sehwag’s individual performance was way below par. He managed to score just 198 runs at an average of 19.80 with the help of one half-century in South Africa.
Even though Sehwag didn’t lead the Indian side for numerous years like Virat Kohli, there is a similarity between them. For the unversed, Kohli had also relinquished T20I captaincy and Royal Challengers Bangalore captaincy within days in September 2021.
Virender Sehwag Had Quit As Delhi Daredevils Captain Before CLT20 2009
Sehwag’s announcement around stepping down as captain had come just before the Champions League Twenty20 2009. With a poor IPL season behind him, he wanted to focus on his batting and contribute as a specialist batter.
“I would like to thank GMR [the franchise owners] for their understanding in accepting my request to step down. Personally, I would like to concentrate on my own batting and contribute to the team.”
It is to be noted that Sehwag had made up his mind to step down as captain immediately after the culmination of IPL 2009. At the time, the franchise owners had thought it to be an impulsive decision but the star player was pretty adamant about it.
“We thought he [Virender Sehwag] had made a statement in the heat of the moment. We consulted him once again, about a month later. He stuck to his stand.” a team official had told ESPNCricinfo.
Deputy to Sehwag in the first two seasons, former Indian batter Gautam Gambhir replaced him in the leadership role. Wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik, meanwhile, was made Gambhir’s deputy. Sehwag was also delighted for Gambhir as both of them had been quite close to each other since their days of representing Delhi in domestic cricket. Even Gambhir also led the franchise for just one season as he was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for a record price during IPL 2011 auction.
Virender Sehwag Had Expressed No Desire To Lead India In 2009
Sehwag, who was struggling because of a shoulder injury (missed ICC World Twenty20 2009 due to the same reason) that year, clearly stated that he wasn’t interested in being part of the leadership group of the national team. Furthermore, he wanted a new face to be given the role to be a vice-captain to the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He just wished to score more runs in international cricket as an opener.
“I don’t want to be a captain. I have already told selectors about it. I have said that a new player should be made vice-captain and be groomed to be a captain,” Sehwag had told News24 at the time.
Although officially made the vice-captain of India in 2005, Sehwag had first led the Indian team in 2003. Till 2009, he went on to lead India in a total of eight international matches (including India’s first T20I match). Even after his announcement, he ended up leading the side nine more times when Dhoni was not there. He had to accept the vice-captaincy position despite not being interested. In a total of 17 matches under Sehwag’s captaincy, India won 10 and lost six times.
