When MS Dhoni dropped me in Australia, I thought of retiring from ODIs: Virender Sehwag

Former Indian legendary opening batter Virender Sehwag has made a startling revelation when the former Indian skipper MS Dhoni dropped him from the playing XI during the 2007-08 ODI series against Australia Down Under.

Speaking exclusively on Padamjeet Sehrawat's YouTube channel, Sehwag has disclosed that he thought of retiring from ODI cricket after he was dropped from the playing XI. However, Sachin Tendulkar’s piece of advice has changed his perspective and he went on to play the series to emerge among the leading run-scorers.

“In the 2007-08 series in Australia, I played the first three (five) matches and then MS Dhoni dropped me from the side. I wasn’t picked for a while after that. Then I felt that if I can’t be a part of the playing XI, then there was no point in me playing ODI cricket,” Sehwag said on Padamjeet Sehrawat's YouTube channel.

Then I went to Tendulkar and said, ‘I am thinking of retiring from ODIs’. He said, ‘No, I went through a similar phase in 1999-2000, where I felt I should leave cricket. But that phase came and went. So, you are going through a trough, but it will pass. Don’t make any decision when you are emotional. Give yourself some time and 1-2 series, and then take a call.’,” he added.

After following Sachin’s advice, Sehwag got back into the XI in the following series, scoring 150 runs in the three-match ODI series. Later, he went on to open the innings in the ODI World Cup in 2011 at home and India successfully lifted the title.

“When that series ended, I played in the next series and made a lot of runs. I played the 2011 World Cup and we won the World Cup as well," he concluded.

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