For KXIP and his son, Virender Sehwag rolls back the years

The CSK vs KXIP Qualifier 2 battle was termed as Glenn Maxwell vs Ravichandran Ashwin. All eyes were on them as something special was expected of Maxwell after he went through a lean patch. But CSK were hit by another force, one that has been almost invisible to all of us – Virender Sehwag. A whirlwind 122 off 58 balls knocked the wind out of the CSK sails.

It also brought back memories of Sehwag in his prime. The Nawab of Najafgarh was going through a tough time of late. It’s been more than a year since he’s been left out of the national side. The last Test he played was against Australia in Hyderabad in 2013, The last ODI he played was against Pakistan in the same year. He hasn’t played a T20I since October 2012. He had a horrible 2013/14 Ranji season – averaging less than Ashish Nehra .

There was a joy in watching him blast the bowlers from the word go. The flamboyance and fearlessness revolutionised the game and changed the art of batting in Tests. But suddenly, there was a dip in form and fitness. And before he knew it, the selectors looked elsewhere.

Last night we saw the same old hunger in his batting, a man who desperately wanted to seek redemption. He was at his best. Throughout the IPL, the fans craved for a Sehwag special. He was getting starts, scoring 20s and 30s and there were glimpses of brilliance but a full-fledged special eluded him and his fans. It was on display at the Wankhede stadium.

He got his innings going with a typical back foot punch through covers off Nehra, smashed Mohit Sharma through point, guided Ishwar Pandey cleverly to third man. He was severe on Nehra as he cracked one straight back, then lifted him over extra cover with belligerence. He upper cut Mohit for a maximum then greeted Ashwin with a six over the sightscreen off his first delivery.

He brought up his 50 off just 21 balls. Then, it was Ravindra Jadeja’s turn to face the wrath as Sehwag went after him and clobbered him multiple times over the long on fence.

Nehra came back but it was the same old story, the bespectacled opener backed away and lofted one straight over his head and followed it up with a massive six over long on. This was Sehwag at his brutal best as he brought up his century off just 50 balls.

There was a sense of relief in his celebrations as he pumped his fist in the air. He continued the carnage with powerful drives, clever slices and thumping sixes over long on before finally departing for 122. The entire Wankhede stood up and applauded a special innings.

Later, Sehwag revealed that his son called him and said, “Papa, what’re you doing? There are a lot of friends in school and they’re teasing me that your father is not scoring runs!’ I told him ‘Hold on, there are a lot of matches to go. You’ll be proud of me”

Sehwag was a man of his word and those words from his son were perhaps the only inspiration he needed. Had this innings come a bit earlier, he might have made it to the flight to Bangladesh. But Kings XI must be happy that he kept his best for the crucial game.

Sehwag has the momentum with him, he will again be the key against KKR in the final. He’s been one of the few batsmen successful against mystery spinners, he has had the upper hand over Ajantha Mendis in the past and in this tournament too, he’s looked assured against KKR’s trump card - Sunil Narine.

KXIP are gunning for their maiden title and they would be hoping for another Sehwag special. What this innings against CSK showed is that there is still cricket left in Sehwag. He can create the old magic, this knock might just have given him the much-needed confidence. Sometimes, one innings can bring about a turnaround and this might just be that innings.