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In a candid moment, former Indian opener and one of the most destructive batter cricket has seen, Virender Sehwag, recounted a dramatic confrontation with then-Indian coach Greg Chappell. Sehwag’s revelation offers a rare insight into the contentious relationship between the two and highlights the high-pressure environment of the Indian dressing room during Chappell’s tenure.
Virendra Sehwag opens up on forgotten clash with Greg Chappell
During The Life Savers Show, Virender a time when he was going through a rough patch, Chappell criticized his batting technique and questioned his footwork. Sehwag felt the remarks were unjust, citing his record of more than 6,000 runs at an average above 50. The disagreement escalated into a serious argument, forcing Rahul Dravid to step in and separate the two. Before Sehwag went out to bat, Chappell warned him about being dropped if he failed. Sehwag answered in the best possible way—by scoring 184 runs by the end of the second session—and later told Dravid to keep the coach away from him.
“Yes, Greg Chappell’s words once hurt me. I was going through a rough patch when he told me, ‘If you don’t move your feet, you won’t score runs.’ I replied, ‘Greg, I’ve scored over 6,000 runs with an average of more than 50.’ But he dismissed it, saying, ‘Doesn’t matter.’ That led to a heated argument, and Rahul Dravid had to step in to separate us. Later, as I was walking out to bat, Greg warned me, ‘Make sure you score, or I’ll drop you.’ By the end of the second session, I had 184 runs to my name. After that, I told Dravid, ‘Tell your coach not to come near me,” Sehwag recalled.
Sehwag’s exchange with Chappell reflects tension of the era
The confrontation between Sehwag and Chappell was more than just a heated dressing room exchange. It highlighted the larger struggles of the Chappell era where players often felt cornered under pressure and clashes of ideas became frequent. Sehwag’s response on the field showed his strength of character and his ability to let the bat do the talking. His 184 runs turned a threat into triumph and silenced doubts about his place in the side. The incident remains a reminder of how resilience and performance can outshine conflict in the toughest phases of a career.
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