As the hours passed there was excitement in the air at Laxmi Garden, the home of Virendra Sehwag in Najafgarh area of Delhi on Saturday. The place's best-known name was expected to return home any moment after a successful series in Pakistan. Mother Krishna was busy preparing a special dinner for her darling son while father Kishen attended to the media. Handling the many television news channels was his responsibility, but he was a bit upset when the power cells of a video camera gave way and he had to wait for fresh set to be inserted before the shoot began.
"Bhai mere ko maaf kar. Tumari battery to kam karti nahin [Please forgive me. Your camera batteries are not working]," he told a male correspondent from ZEE Television, who was pleading for a comment or two from him.
In an exclusive interview with Chief correspondent Onkar Singh, Kishen Sehwag told rediff.com that Virendra's record-breaking 300 in the first Test of the series was possible because Sachin Tendulkar was batting at the other end.
As he answered questions he looked at the gold-embossed wedding cards of Virendra, who will be marrying an advocate's daughter on April 22 in New Delhi.
How does it feel? Your son is returning home after a great tour that saw the Indian team win the one-day and Test series against Pakistan in Pakistan?
Naturally, we all are delighted that he [Virendra] was part of the Indian team. Defeating Pakistan on their soil is naturally more satisfying to us. I am happy that Veeru was part of the team. The credit goes to the entire team.
After the Indian team lost the second Test did you feel it could win the third and final Test and claim the series?
Frankly, I do not know much about cricket. All that I can say is that the Indian team played like one unit and it clicked. Everyone worked hard to ensure the success of the team. Veeru was just a part of this great team.
Past Indian teams that went to Pakistan had great batsmen, like Sunil Gavaskar, and bowlers, like Bishan Bedi, E A S Prasanna and B S Chandershekhar, yet they could not do what this team has done
Main to etna hi janta hoon ki yeh team accha kheli aur jeeti [The only thing I know is that this team played a good game and won]. To my mind, besides their effort, it was luck too that favoured them. They worked hard to win and got what they deserved. God was kind to them.
What do you feel about the triple hundred Virendra scored?
Woh to jee 309 runs banwane main Sachin Tendulkar ka bahut bara haath tha [In reaching the landmark of 309 runs Tendulkar played a big role]. He helped my son, Veeru, and kept on telling him how to keep his calm and go for runs. Sachin told Veeru to have patience. And that's why Veeru reached this landmark.
Are you saying that had Tendulkar not been on the field Veeru would not have scored 300?
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Bhai Sachin Kyon nahin hota. Woh to khel raha tha Veeru ke sang [Why, should Sachin not have been there. He was playing along with Veeru at that time]. Yes, if Sachin had not been there then Veeru would have played a rash stroke in anger and got out before reaching the landmark. I am glad that he made 300 and became the first Indian batsmen to achieve the distinction. Sachin is a great player. What is good about him is that he never misguides any player or bowler. He does not know what is anger; he is so calm and composed.
Did Veeru say something on that night after reaching the landmark?
He told his mother that he had been playing for seven hours. She in turn told him to go and take good rest and take care of himself. Veeru said he had to work really hard to reach that milestone and God was kind to him.
How does it feel waiting for him to return?
We are in celebration mood right now. His mother is preparing food and some dishes that he likes, Kheer [sweet dish made of milk and rice] in particular. He loves to drink milk, which he missed in Pakistan. So, naturally, a glass of milk with malai [cream] would be given to him to relish.
He is getting married on April 22. How are the preparations for the wedding going on?
We are in the midst of distributing cards to our friends and relatives. The engagement ceremony will take place on April 20th and the wedding will be on April 22nd. The baraat [wedding procession] would leave for 9 Ashoka Road, residence of Arun Jaitley, around 6 pm, and, hopefully, we should reach the wedding place by 8 pm. I must thank the Indian media for supporting Veeru and all of us. Without you all he may not have been what he is today.
When he started playing cricket did you ever think he would become such a great player?
I never knew that he was playing cricket till he was selected to play for India in the under-19 team that went to South Africa years back. I learnt about his selection from an evening newspaper, where there was a write-up about him with a big picture of Veeru. I had always told him to study. Thank God he has achieved what he wanted to.
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