When R Ashwin recalled Virender Sehwag’s hilarious demand for free passes during 2011 WC
Speaking on the show “What is a Duck”, Indian spinner R. Ashwin spoke about Virender Sehwag’s hilarious demand for free passes during the team meeting.
One of the senior members of Team India in the 2011 World Cup, Virender Sehwag played a key role in the Men in Blue’s success by scoring 380 runs in 8 matches in the tournament.
The right-handed batsman made a flying start to the tournament with a knock of 175 against Bangladesh and averaged 47.50 in the ICC event.
He formed a solid opening partnership with Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 482 runs to emerge as the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer.
Given that the tournament was played in Asia, many would think that India were under immense pressure to win the title. But that probably wasn’t the case.
During a chat with Vikram Sathaye on the What the Duck, R Ashwin had recalled a hilarious incident involving Sehwag. Before the league stage match against England, the vice-captain made a hilarious demand during the all-important team meeting. Ashwin was still a newcomer in the team and only played 2 matches in the World Cup.
Recalling Sehwag’s demand during the team meeting, Ashwin revealed: “During the team meeting in 2011, when we were playing England at Bangalore, Gary (Kirsten, former India coach) had scheduled a meeting at 10 am.
Prior to the meeting, Sehwag had told Gary that he wanted to discuss something at that meeting. While everybody thought that Sehwag wanted to contribute tips or discuss learnings from the previous game, Sehwag, his usual witty self, began a discussion around the complimentary passes that every player was eligible to receive.”
“Everybody at that meeting was thrown off by initiation of this discussion. Sehwag mentioned that he got to know that all players were eligible for six passes, but were being given only three.
So he decided to take matters in his own hands and mentioned that come what may, before the toss, the team must be handed over their passes. This was the first meeting that went on for a whole 20 mins. Viru had also threatened to not play the game if the passes were not given to the players!”
The league stage match between India and England ended in a tie as both the team finished at scores of 338. Batting first, India rode on Sachin Tendulkar’s century to post a big total of 338. Skipper Andrew Strauss led the charge for his side and scored a brilliant 158 off 145 to finish at 338/8.
Sehwag scored 35 off 26 while Ashwin wasn’t part of the playing XI. Sehwag only played 15 ODIs after the WC final and didn’t share the dressing room with Ashwin for long.
After Sehwag’s retirement, the duo reunited in Punjab Kings’ dressing room for a year in IPL 2018 as the franchise bought the off-spinner. He also led the side in IPL 2018 and 2019. Both Sehwag and Ashwin aren’t part of PBKS now.
