‘I want my own choice and I didn’t get that choice’ – Virender Sehwag on turning down team India’s head coach role

Virender Sehwag (Photo by Money SHARMA / AFP) (Photo credit should read MONEY SHARMA/AFP/Getty Images)

Virender Sehwag, even after his retirement from international cricket, keeps making the news either for his expert opinion on some player, or for his performances at the T20 league games such as Road Safety Series, the Legends League Cricket and others. In one way or the other, the former India cricketer has managed to be in the news regularly.

Sehwag is renowned for his unfiltered comments, but he recently made an intriguing disclosure. He revealed the reason behind not taking up the role of the head coach of the Indian team after his counterpart Anil Kumble stepped down from the position. The former India opener stated that Virat Kohli and the then BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary had invited him to take up the role.

“I wouldn’t have applied if Virat Kohli and then BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary hadn’t approached me. We had a meeting, and he (Choudhary) told me that things weren’t working out between Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble we want you to take the coaching position. He told that me that Kumble’s contract will expire after the Champions Trophy in 2017 and then you can travel to West Indies with the team,” Sehwag told News 18 Chaupal.

“I didn’t say yes or no, but I said if I travel to West Indies, I would want my coaching staff, the assistant coach, bowling coach, batting coach and the fielding coach. I want my own choice for the support staff and I didn’t get that choice so I didn’t travel to West Indies,” he added.

I’m happy with what I achieved: Sehwag

Sehwag was a top-tier player during his days, and the amount of experience he held was very apt for someone in the head coach’s role. Even after proving his skills everytime as a player, the veteran never led the Indian side. Speaking on any regrets he had of not getting the opportunity to don the captain’s hat, he said:

“Not at all, I’m happy with what I achieved. Coming from a small family of farmers from Najafgarh I got the opportunity to play for India, got so much love and appreciation from fans and even if I would have captained Team India I would have gotten the same respect.”