Virender Sehwag on Tuesday said that he was honoured to have a gate named after him, even as the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) goofed up a certain record held by the veteran Indian cricketer.
Gate 2 of the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi was named as the 'Virender Sehwag Gate'.
However, the Delhi cricket board was left embarrassed at the event as they incorrectly called Sehwag the only Indian to score a triple century in Test cricket. The association forgot that Karnataka's Karun Nair also smashed a triple ton just earlier this year.
It is a great honour and today we have a gate named after a cricketer but later we can have dressing room, stands, restaurants and dressing rooms and other things named after cricketers. It’s a good thing and positive move from DDCA.Virender Sehwag
“I had a wish that whenever such a function happens, we should call all the cricketers who have represented Delhi and India,” he added.
Asked what sets apart Delhi cricket, Sehwag said, "In Delhi a lot of one-day cricket is played in clubs. And by the time these players come to Ranji Trophy they become very tough mentally and they don't find it difficult to get used to the grind."
The gate contained a cut-out of Sehwag, with the line "Legends are forever", and a panel recounting statistics and achievements from his remarkable international career spanning 14 years. Sehwag said that honouring a cricketer like this would motivate younger players.
"Any young cricketer will get motivated reading the name. Virender Sehwag played here as a kid and when he left there is a gate named after him so if I can also play for U19, U16, U23 or Ranji for Delhi and then represent India, then a gate, stand or something will be after my name," he said.
Asked to single out that one moment he wished he was part of in Delhi cricket, Sehwag said it was the Ranji Trophy triumph in 2007-08 when they beat Uttar Pradesh in the final.
"One moment I missed was that I was not part of that Ranji Trophy triumphant team. I was playing for the Indian team then. Full credit to Gautam Gambhir, who was leading the team, and Pradeep Sangwan also played really well I remember." Sehwag recalled a must-win match against Gujarat at the Kotla during his U-19 days.
"We played one U-19 match here – Delhi versus Gujarat – and we had to win and qualify. Ashish Nehra and Amit Bhandari played really well in that game, picking up five and four wickets, and though I scored only 50 or 60 runs I still fondly remember that game as we managed to qualify for the knockouts," Sehwag said.
‘Very proud of you Viru,’ Says Sehwag’s Wife
Sehwag’s wife Aarti and teammate VVS Laxman took to Twitter to congratulate the cricketer for the honour.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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