The year was 2005 and the venue was the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where India and Pakistan were playing the last and most crucial match of a high voltage Test series. The tension on the field was so thick that even the air felt heavy. Yet amid all that pressure, one Indian batter stood at the crease not just tearing apart the Pakistani bowling attack but also humming a tune to himself. That batter was none other than Virender Sehwag, Indian cricket's most fearless opener.
Sehwag's style at the crease was always different from everyone else. When he batted, people talked as much about his mindset as they did about his footwork. In a recent chat show appearance, Sehwag shared some interesting revelations about this unusual habit of his, ones that left cricket fans smiling all over again. He explained that on the field he entertained the Pakistani players not just with his explosive batting but also with his singing talent.
The Moment Yasir Hameed Found Out The Secret
Sehwag shared a fascinating anecdote from that historic match. He said that opposing teams usually had no idea he sang while batting, but that secret came out during this very India Pakistan series. According to Sehwag, he was batting on around 150 runs in the Bengaluru Test when Yasir Hameed, who was fielding at short leg for Pakistan, walked up to him. Yasir asked in surprise, Veeru bhai, do you really sing while batting. Sehwag smiled and admitted it was true. Yasir then immediately asked him to sing a Kishore Kumar song.
Sehwag laughingly recalled that he actually fulfilled Yasir's request. In doing so, he troubled the Pakistani team with his boundaries while also entertaining them by breaking into song every now and then. It is a rare mix of on field tension and melody that few other batters have ever managed.
A Song Ready For Every Mood
When Sehwag was asked about his favourite songs, he said he had a different song ready for every situation he faced on the field. However, one song remained his all time favourite, Kishore Kumar's Chala Jaata Hoon Kisi Ki Dhun Mein, Dhadakte Dil Ke Taraane Liye. According to Sehwag, this was a song he could sing in any mood, whether his form was good or bad, and it would instantly lift his spirits.
When Sehwag was batting well and scoring runs freely, he would hum peppy and trendy numbers of that era such as Chittiyan Kalaiyaan. Besides that, to stay calm and keep his concentration intact, he would also recall and repeat devotional bhajans. In effect, he always had a tune ready to match whatever phase of the innings he was in.
Keeping Track Of The Ball Even While Humming
Cricket experts often say that when bowlers like Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami or Danish Kaneria are bowling at speeds of 145 to 150 kilometres per hour, a batter's entire focus should be on the ball alone. But Sehwag's mind worked on a completely different level. Even while humming a tune, he would judge the length of the delivery and send it sailing over the boundary. Sehwag believes that singing helped shift his attention away from unnecessary pressure, allowing him to play the ball purely on its merit. That is precisely why he looked so fearless even against genuine pace.
A Historic Innings That Still Ended In Defeat
The Bengaluru Test that Sehwag spoke about was one where he thoroughly dismantled the Pakistani bowling attack. He faced just 261 balls to score a magical 201 runs, a double century. It was the final and deciding match of a three match Test series. On the back of Sehwag's marathon innings, India tried hard to build a strong position, but unfortunately his brilliant, tuneful innings could not help Team India win the match. Pakistan staged a strong comeback and India eventually lost the match by a big margin of 168 runs.
Even though India lost that match, the singing exchange between Sehwag and the Pakistani fielders in the middle of the ground, alongside his batting, has gone down as one of the most cheerful chapters in cricket history. Sehwag proved that even though cricket is a game of pressure and uncertainty, if there is a tune in your heart, you never forget to enjoy the game.
