I want to play 100 Tests: Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag, who completed 10 years in Test cricket, tells DNA that he is improving with each match

Ten years into Test cricket, how do you look back?
It’s been a great journey. I’m happy that I completed 10 years in Test cricket. I’m also happy that I’ve been able to score runs consistently. I feel very lucky.

What has been the high point in these 10 years?
I relish my Test debut the most. No one was expecting me to play that Test in South Africa on November 3, 2001. And no one would have thought I would score a hundred on debut. Prior to that, I was playing one-day cricket for two years. My teammates were happy for me. Captain Sourav Ganguly and coach John Wright gave me immense encouragement. They were, in fact, happier than me. I rate the first Test as the most memorable moment in my Test career. After that come the two triple centuries.

People say you have changed the way Test cricket is played?
I play my natural game and I never ever try to change it. My approach has been to look for scoring runs rather than stay put there. If there is a ball to be hit, I hit. In Test matches, you get a lot of gaps too. Teams try to attack you with close-in fielders. So, opportunity to score are many. I try to play as many shots as I can. My natural instinct is to look for runs.

You have been more successful in Tests than ODIs.
I get too positive in the ODIs. May be that is the reason I’m not successful in the one-dayers. In Tests, I’m not that positive. I just look for the bad balls.  I must say Test matches are more challenging than the ODIs. In the ODIs, I try to score quicker and make mistakes.  In Tests, I show a little more patience.

All the bowlers in the world plan for your wicket. Do you also plan for the bowlers or is it bang, bang, bang?
I do have my plans. Before a series or a game, I watch the videos of the bowlers and accordingly I plan my innings. Sometimes, I consciously target the fourth or fifth bowler of a side.

89 Tests and 22 centuries — do you think the record could have been better?
I think so. I missed a lot of centuries. I got out in 90s many a time. If I had converted my chances in the last few years, maybe I would have had about 26-27 centuries by now. But I’ve no complaints. I’m quite happy with my current record. But there is no stopping. It is lesson. I’m still learning and improving my game.

Has the Test cricket become more difficult since your debut?
I must say yes. Now, every team is trying to stop my runs. They are having deep third man and deep point from the very beginning to stop my boundaries. They are obviously watching my videos. Scoring has become more difficult than in the past.

Who was the most difficult bowler you have faced?
There are a lot of bowlers in fact who have given me difficult times. Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini, Shoaib Akthar, Umar Gul… The list is quite long.

You missed out on third triple century. Do you target that?
I don’t target anything. I just try to bat as long as I can. Thrice I batted full day and twice I reached 300. My aim has been to bat as long as I can. But more importantly, because of my batting style, if I bat full day, my team gets into a good position to win the Test.

How many Tests and how many centuries you hope for yourself?
As I said I don’t set goals. But the simple funda is that I want to join the club of 100 Test matches. There are not many in India. Only Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble and VVS Laxman have played 100 Test matches. I want to be part a of that league. After that I will see, how long I can play.

Finally, what are your thoughts on West Indies series?
I think I’m playing after a long time. I’m looking forward to the series. They are not an easy side. They did well in Bangladesh. They are a very competitive side. Our job is to win the series and as an opener, my job is to give a good start to the team. If I and Gautam (Gambhir) can give a good start, we can be in a good position.