I am my own favourite: Virender Sehwag

Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag has been a sensation on Twitter. He is known for his sarcasm and pun-heavy tweets. He is best renowned for his unique birthday wishes and the way he trolls his fellow cricketers. Be it on the field or off the field, Sehwag has been a complete entertainer. In a recent conversation with Aaj Tak, Virender Sehwag spoke at length about his views on the way he is dominating the social media.

The former Indian opener remarked that the social media is the best platform where one can engage with fans. He also added that entertainment is his only agenda. “Social media is a platform where you can express your opinion and engage with your fans. I have always believed in one thing entertainment, entertainment and entertainment. There is already lot of tension in life. If you can make somebody happy and smile. Why not, nothing like it,” quoted Sehwag.

He further mentioned that actor Ranveer Singh said that he laughs very hard after reading the tweets from Sehwag. “People write quite simple. I thought let’s write something that people take notioce of. I met (actor) Ranveer Singh recently and he said that he reads my tweets at midnight and jump in bed, laughing,” he added.

Sehwag did not shy away from saying that he is his own favorite. He revealed that he reads his own tweets and enjoys. Also, he loves to watch his own videos on YouTube. “My kids also tell me, you are a rage. God (Sachin Tendulkar) has praised you. Were you were really that good? Now I watch my own batting videos on Youtube and enjoy. I read my tweets and enjoy. I have entertained people so much, I also have a right. I have admired a lot of cricketers and I am also one of them. I am my own favourite,” Virender Sehwag said proudly.

Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli has been drawing praises from all corners. Sehwag had a word of praise for his former Delhi team mate. Asked if Kohli reminds him of some cricketer, Sehwag quoted, “I enjoy when he bats. He reminds me of Virat only. In year 2016, his stats are better than (Donald) Bradman. He is good in all formats, ODI, Tests.”

He further added that cricketers should not be compared. When the comparisons start, things go horribly wrong. “No one should be compared. If that happens you risk forgetting your own game. When people started telling me that I play like Tendulkar, I tried to copy his shots for 10-12 ODIs and terribly failed. Then I said, To hell with Tendulkar, let’s play my own game,” cited Sehwag.

Virender Sehwag was known for his batting exploits at the top of the order with Sachin Tendulkar. Recalling one such incident of them batting together, Sehwag admitted that the only time Sachin got stumped was because of him.

Elaborating the incident, he said, “I was stepping out and easily hitting my shots. He was mostly padding. I said there is no spin, you can charge and play. It took me 2-3 overs to convince him. The only ball that turned was the one on which he stepped out of crease and was stumped. I did not go back to dressing room that day at tea break. I sat in umpires’ room. Later was I called. Tendulkar said only once in my career I have got out stumped in Test cricket and that’s because of you.”