After hitting an explosive hundred against the ACT XI, Virender Sehwag was hoping a recall to the Indian Test team.
CANBERRA: After hitting an explosive hundred against the ACT XI, Virender Sehwag was hoping a recall to the Indian Test team.
"I can think of playing in Perth now. I have played there before. That is a good pitch with good bounce. Batsmen can go for shots there," Sehwag said.
The flamboyant opener said concentration was the key to his performance on Saturday.
"The idea was to focus on the session. I knew if my mind get focus, I will get back my shots. I thought of nothing but the concentration."
"Earlier I was thinking that something is wrong with my foot-work, worked on it, but nothing happened, so I just wanted to concentrate," Sehwag said after a sparkling innings of 113 runs, which he dedicated to his late father.
Sehwag, who last played a Test in January 2007 against South Africa, said warming the benches never pleased him.
"Yes I was disappointing sitting out. Both Yuvraj and (Wasim) Jaffer were playing well and it was really challenging sitting out."
"But I am happy that there is competition in the team and now I am waiting for my chance," he said.
Sehwag also shared what went through his mind when he was not among runs.
"When you fail to score, you try to restrict shots. I also tried to curb my shots on the front foot. But it just adds to chaos in mind as it makes you double minded and eventually you get out.
"I always had self-belief that I can do well in Australia. The last tour was good for me. (Anil) Kumble had also backed me. I thank him and the selectors for posing faith in me and picking me for the tour," he said.
Sehwag, who was not part of the team in the Sydney Test, said thought of defeat never crossed the Indians' mind.
"We never thought we will lose the match even when wickets fell in quick succession. We knew Kumble and Harbjahan can bat down the order.
"We were sure that RP (Singh) and Ishant (Sharma) can also bat a few overs if needed, but it just did not happen. The team was angry that we could have at least drawn the Test but lost it due to some bad decisions against us," he said.
Sehwag said the second Test would be remembered for just controversies and not performance.
"It is bad for cricket that Sydney Test will be remembered for all controversies despite some good performances like that of Hayden, Kumble and Harbhajan were there," he said.
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