Sehwag the new Viv Richards: Srikkanth

Someone who has always been an ardent fan of the Nawab of Najafgarh has been the Chairman of Selectors Krishnamachari Srikkanth. He spoke to CNN-IBN calling Sehwag the best batsmen in all formats of the game.


CNN-IBN: Were you able to sit on our seat after watching Sehwag against New Zealand?


Krishnamachari Srikkanth: Not exactly. I think Virender Sehwag was extraordinary. That particular knock on the fourth one-dayer against New Zealand was extraordinary. I'm a great fan of Virender Sehwag. I used to like the batting of Viv Richards. I think the way Virender Sehwag played that day reminded me of Richards' batting.


CNN-IBN: What do you think is the secret of his success? What makes him so special?


Krishnamachari Srikkanth: I think the greatest quality in Sehwag is that he is very positive in his approach and he backs himself. He has tremendous self confidence which is very, very important. He is not scared to play his shots. In any form of cricket - be it Twenty20, one-day or Test cricket, he is willing to play his shots and he has the guts. Secondly, he has a stillness about him. In batting, you must be still, in body and in mind. He is very cool in his mind and still physically also.


CNN-IBN: Do you think he is suitable for any form of cricket?

Krishnamachari Srikkanth: Obviously. I think Virender Sehwag, in my opinion, is probably the best batsman in the world. I would rate him as the best as of today. Because he can demolish any bowling attack, be it spin, swing, pace - and let's face it, he's got runs in all kinds of conditions. He's scored runs in England, he's scored runs in South Africa, Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, West Indies - he has proved himself in all kinds of conditions.

CNN-IBN: Do you think he has redefined batting?


Krishnamachari Srikkanth: He has redefined batting in world cricket. A guy with this kind of style, an attacking opening batsman. He is the only guy from India who has two triple centuries. And he reaches a triple century with a six! He scored the second one in Chennai in less than run a ball. You're talking triple centuries, concentration, staying there, long innings - he's proved everybody wrong. He has proved that you can be an attacking player, play your shots at will and yet score triple centuries and big hundreds. Eleven of his last Test centuries are above 150. That goes to show that even if you're an attacking player, if you're sensible, you can score more than 150 runs even in Test cricket.


CNN-IBN: If ever Sehwag and Sunil Gavaskar were to bat together, what sort of conversation would they have had?


Krishnamachari Srikkanth: I think Gavaskar would just have said, 'C'mon Viru. Enjoy and I'll watch from the other end,' which is what he used to tell my in my playing days. I think it would be a perfect combination - Sunil Gavaskar holding one end up and Sehwag smashing from the other. What more can you ask for.