Former Indian National Cricket Team batsman Virender Sehwag has spoken about why he is not interested in coaching the national team. He added that his children are young and he would not be able to spend time with them if he plays this role, but added that he can play the role of a mentor in this film. IPL.
Virender Sehwag is undoubtedly one of the fiercest batsmen to ever play the game. He believed that opening-minded teams would destroy their bowling line-ups and did so in all three formats. He has consistently given India strong starts and helped them win many games.
Virender Sehwag retired from cricket in 2015 and after that he took up the position of commentator and then coach in the Indian Premier League. He played for Punjab Kings in 2014 and 2015 and later took on the role of mentor for the franchise in 2016.
After mentoring the team for a season, he was appointed as the director of cricket of the Punjab Kings. The former India opener was with the franchise till 2018. However, he has since stepped away from his coaching role and has been commentating ever since.
Virender Sehwag also applied to become the head coach of the Indian National Cricket Team in 2017, but he didn’t make the cut as Ravi Shastri outranked him. Since then, he has been off the scene in his coaching role. He has never coached an international team, which comes as a big surprise given his experience.
Virender Sehwag has said that he does not want to coach the Indian team, but if an opportunity arises for an IPL team, he will aspire to do so.
He said that he wants to train his sons, who are cricketers, so if he tries for the Indian team, he will not be able to give them time. Speaking to Amar Ujal, he explained:
“I think if an opportunity arises for someone, not for the Indian team, but for the IPL team, I can see it. Because if I become the coach of the Indian team, then I will go back to the routine that I have been doing for the last 15 years.
“You have played for the Indian team for 15 years, away from home for eight months a year. Now my children are 14 and 16 and they need me. They both play cricket. One is an off-spinner and the other is a sport. I have to teach them… with them I have to spend time.”
If I get the role of coach or mentor in IPL, I will think about it – Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag highlighted how the Indian team coach is required to stay in the team for 8 months.
He stressed that it would be a big problem for him if he gets the role. However, he is interested in getting a 2-month coaching position in the IPL. He explained:
“If I am the coach of the Indian team, the biggest problem for me is if the players of the Indian team are out for eight months. Then I won’t be able to spend time with the kids. But yes, if I take the role of a coach or a mentor in the IPL, then I will definitely think about it.” – he concluded.
