“I was planning to retire in 2007…but Tendulkar stopped me from doing so”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Virender Sehwag has revealed that legendary India batsman Sachin Tendulkar talked him out of retiring when he was dropped in 2007.

Sehwag continued playing professional cricket for eight more years, but announced his retirement on October 20 this year after spending more than two-and-a-half years out of the national 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,” Sehwag said. “But fate had something else in store for me.

“I was planning to retire in 2007, when dropped from the team, but Tendulkar stopped me from doing so.”

Sehwag’s international career effectively ended when he was dropped after the second Test against Australia in Hyderabad in March 2013 as he could never regain his spot.

“The selectors did not ask me about my future plan before dropping me during Australia series in 2013,” he said. “Had the selectors told me about their decision, I could have announced my retirement in that series.”

With his playing career over, Sehwag hinted that he would like to give commentary a try.

“I will always be connected with this game,” he said. “If I get an offer from the BCCI or any commentary offers, I will consider it. My commentary would be straightforward like my batting.”