Revealing that he wanted to retire at the top of his game, veteran batsman Virender Sehwag on Wednesday said that it was iconic cricketer Sachin Tendulkar who stopped him from calling it quits after the swashbuckling opener was dropped from the Indian team in 2007.
Sehwag finally retired on his 37th birthday on October 20, more than two-and-a-half years after his last appearance for the national cricket team.
“Every player wants to retire at the top of his international game. Had I also retired while playing international cricket, I could have given a retirement speech. But fate had something else in store for me,” Sehwag told ‘Zee News’.
“I was planning to retire in 2007 when dropped from the team but Tendulkar stopped me from doing so,” he added.
Sehwag’s career ended after he was dropped from the Indian squad following the second Test against Australia in March 2013 and could never find his way back.
The destructive opener rued that the selectors did not give him enough chances and dropped him after a few failures.
“The selectors did not ask me about my future plan before dropping me during Australia series in 2013. Had the selectors told me about their decision, I could have announced my retirement in that series,” said the Najafgarh-born player.
Sehwag, however, may get a chance to give a retirement speech at the Ferozeshah Kotla with the BCCI thinking of giving the senior batsman an official farewell during the fourth and final Test match between India and South Africa, scheduled to be held in the capital from December 3.
He said his family was not happy with his retirement. “My sons were upset. But it doesn’t matter to me,” he said.
Every player wants to retire at the top of his international game. Had I also retired while playing international cricket, I could have given a retirement speech