SK Flashback: When Virender Sehwag conquered India's demons in New Zealand

Historic ODI series win

India wrapped up the tour in style

In the ODI series that followed, India raced to an unassailable 3-0 lead to ensure a historic first ever series win in New Zealand in the 50-over format. The whole team had responded to Sehwag’s clarion call, an act signalled by his offensive on the first over of the tour.

The ODI series was decided in the visitors’ favour 3-1, but there was more history awaiting in the Test series. Sachin Tendulkar’s 160 in the 1st Test provided the impetus for India to break the 34-year jinx of not winning a Test in New Zealand, and were narrowly denied a 2-0 series win as time ran out in the 3rd Test with New Zealand 8 wickets down.

Like all revolutionary scientists, thinkers, and artists, perhaps Sehwag had realised that sometimes to solve an insurmountable problem, all it takes is a little madness, to look at the problem from a different angle. And so, while analysts’ talk consisted of guarding the stumps and footwork in the build-up to the tour, Sehwag was possibly mentally mapping out the size of the grounds.