The Sehwag Dilemma

Indian captain Rahul Dravid is called “The Wall” for more reasons one can think of. Like a wall, he is solid in his defense, like a wall, he pokes the same face at the media for all occasions, and like a wall, he backs his players to the point of stupidity.

In a recently concluded press conference, Rahul Dravid affirmed that Sehwag is a great player and he can bounce back any moment. But he didn’t bother to clarify when Sehwag will bounce back. If Sehwag chooses to bounce back after India has been bounced out of the world cup, will Dravid still defend his player? Will Sehwag, who promised not to let his captain down and played an atrocious shot in the match against West Indies, right after he made that promise, will ever learn from his mistakes? If Rahul Dravid keeps selecting Sehwag no matter how he plays, we might have seen the end of Sehwag.

It’s not because I hate Sehwag, in fact I almost adore his fearless approach to the game and his breathtaking shots. Before Dhoni entered the Indian cricket and after Sachin went into his shell, Sehwag was the only entertainer in the Indian team. He was the man who played the game without the fear of failure. He was the man who brought a fresh air to a game which was becoming too stereotyped. For me, Sehwag remains one of my all time favorite players and I desperately wish his speedy return to the form.

But at what cost?

Sehwag may be a special player. But giving him unlimited chances in the hope that one day, he will play an innings that will win us matches is pure stupidity. It dents the morale of other deserving players who are not selected, it dents the morale of the team and most importantly, it dents the confidence of Sehwag himself. By pushing a player who is already under tremendous pressure to perform into world cup, Rahul Dravid is unwittingly making sure that Sehwag slips further deep into his own trap.

Consider this. Because of the nature of competition and the quality of opposition which will only improve as India makes progress in the world cup, it’s unlikely that Sehwag will have an easy day in the office. More failure in World Cup will mean more pressure on Sehwag and eventually, he may reach a point of no return where his confidence is shattered and his form has deserted him forever.

Rahul, please! Stop this nonsense right now and give Sehwag and India a break!