On this day in 2001 Sachin Tendulkar was stumped in Test cricket for the 1st time, thanks to Sehwag who vividly recalls the incident.
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Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag have a brilliant relationship, one of mutual respect and admiration, but one where you can also see two so very different personalities gel so well with each other.
India was fortunate enough to see the duo at the peak of their powers for a long time, and obviously they did keep helping each other on the field whenever they could.
However, there was one such instance when Sehwag’s advise actually resulted in Sachin Tendulkar’s downfall.
Tendulkar had never been stumped in Test cricket until then, but thanks to one little harmless advise from Sehwag; that record couldn’t be with Tendulkar for a long time.
Sachin Tendulkar was stumped in Test cricket for the 1st time
Speaking to Aaj tak in an Interview, Virender Sehwag described the entire incident about how his small little advise to Sachin was the reason he got out stumped vs England in a Test series, and if not for Sehwag, Sachin might have had the record of never being stumped in his entire Test career.
Sachin was batting on 90 vs England in the 3rd test of the series. He was on course for yet another hundred, but was struggling a little against spin, unable to score freely.
Sehwag realised that and walked up to his partner and advised him to play fearless cricket and take the attack to the opposition. According to Sehwag, Sachin had been padding most balls that were bowled on and outside the leg stump. As there was not turn, Sehwag asked Sachin to step out of his crease and hit those balls. The Indian opener vividly remembers that Sachin stepped out for the 1 ball that actually turned. Ashley Giles was lucky enough to be the only bowler to get Sachin stumped in Test cricket.
He further explained how he did not go into the dressing room post Sachin’s dismissal, as he knew the god of cricket would be livid with him.
“I was stepping out and easily hitting my shots. He was mostly padding. I said there is no spin, you can charge and play. It took me 2-3 overs to convince him. The only ball that turned was the one on which he stepped out of crease and was stumped. I did not go back to dressing room that day at tea break. I sat in umpires’ room. Later was I called. Tendulkar said only once in my career I have got out stumped in Test cricket and that’s because of you ” Sehwag said.
Check out the video of the incident:
If only Sehwag would have kept his advise to himself.
