Kotla bids goodbye to Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag is known to do things “his way”. So, when the dashing batsman decided to call it quits from international cricket, it was in the manner that people have known of him over the years — defying every stereotype. On his 37th birthday, October 20, Sehwag took to Twitter, leaving a crisp message for his fans. “God has been kind and I have done what I wanted to do — on the field and in my life and I had decided sometime back that I will retire on my 37th birthday,” Sehwag wrote.

He, however, rued the fact that he could not get a farewell in India colours, in front of his home fans.On Thursday, the 37-year-old was given an official send-off at the Kotla as the Indian board felicitated him before the start of the fourth and final India-South Africa Test.

Accompanied by his mother Krishna, wife Aarti and sons Aryavir and Vedant, Viru promised “a Ferrari to his sons if they manage to break his 319-run mark at any level”.

“I am also a human being and sometimes I need to show my emotions.“When you talk of Test cricket, you mention Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar first but when you talk of the three highest individual scores, they will now mention Virender Sehwag,” he said in his farewell speech.

A huge “Thank You Viru” billboard adorned the players’ gallery, while the match ends were named ‘Viru 309’ and ‘Viru 319’ in what was a special tribute to the mesmerising batsman’s triple hundreds.

“I wanted to score 400 and break Brian Lara’s record. I was not out on 309 against South Africa but I got out for 319 the next day. That will remain a regret,” he said.

He thanked former India captains Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble besides his first skipper Ajay Jadeja. He also remembered Tendulkar, with whom he shared many memorable partnerships. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, however, did not find any mention.

“I want to thank my father for allowing me to play the game of cricket and give me the freedom to do whatever I wanted to,” Sehwag said, adding, “And all my coaches, especially A.N. Sharma for making me the cricketer I am. I would like to say thank you to the fans, who stood by me in my good and bad times.”

Players from India and South Africa lined up to greet the legendary cricketer, who later enjoyed the day’s proceedings from the stands.

No show from fans At a time when interest in Test cricket is dwindling, the opening day of the fourth Test another example for the sport as the Kotla wore a deserted look. The serpentine queues that usually seen in one-day and T20 cricket gave way to partially filled stands. School children made up for the numbers on a cold yet sunny morning at the Kotla. India skipper Virat Kohli — leading the team at his home ground for the first time — was greeted with loud chants.

Delhi cricketers to be felicitated Justice (retd) Mukut Mudgal, who is overseeing the organisation of the Delhi Test following reports of mismanagement in the DDCA, lauded the Delhi government for getting things in place quickly. On Saturday, cricketers from the capital who were members of the 1983 World Cup and the 2011 World Cup winnings squads will also be felicitated, besides spin great Bishan Singh Bedi.