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Watch: Virender Sehwag bizarrely run out while shadow batting in 2007 ODI

by Wisden Staff September 16, 2021 - 5:39pm 3 minute read

Watch: In a 2007 ODI, Virender Sehwag got himself out in an amusingly dozy fashion, run out while wandering back to his crease, shadow batting as he went.

Sehwag made a name for himself as a batsman not afraid to play one shot too many, without fearing that doing so might get him out, but he took the mantra a little too literally against Sri Lanka at Visag in 2007. Having flayed his way in typically belligerent fashion to 46 at better than a run a ball, Sehwag carved down to third man and set off for a sedate single. However, he took the run more casually than was possible, mimicking strokes with his bat and slowing to a crawl as he approached the crease.

Kumar Sangakkara, ever alert to an opportunity to gain an advantage, seized his moment. Having initially readied himself to launch an underarm throw to a fielder with his gauntlets still in place, Sangakkara spotted the explosive opener dawdling, removing his glove and nailing a direct hit. Even as the throw came in, Sehwag seemed either unperturbed or unaware, but a direct hit caught him shy of his ground, even with him having had an age to make it in.

“Why on earth is he just ambling? Not even ambling, he could walk faster normally,” said the on-air commentator. “But he’s just inviting it. He couldn’t be bothered. And look at Sangakkara. His presence of mind serves you right.”

As was often the case with Sehwag, his onslaught before the inevitable aberration had done the job. Chasing 260 to win in a game shortened to 47 overs a side, India had raced out of the blocks at better than six an over, and ended up cruising home without further loss with seven wickets and six overs in hand.

The innings was an important one for Sehwag from a personal point of view. He had been under some pressure coming into the game, going six games without passing 20 and almost two years without a hundred, and there was scant time to regain form before the 2007 World Cup started.

Despite the unusual ending, this knock brought him back to some kind of rhythm. Two games later, he made a rapid century against Bermuda, although that World Cup ended in disaster for India. Much like in this innings, a little complacency would prove costly.