Kings XI Punjab mentor Virender Sehwag who was in Mumbai for an event with 92.7 BIG FM, spoke to the media on different topics including Kings XI Punjab’s dismal form this season.The former Indian opener said that the foreign players’ failure to perform is one of the main reasons for his side’s poor performance this year.
On the form of his team Kings Eleven Punjab
“I think for Kings XI Punjab this season, it’s nothing new. It’s just like last year. We are at the bottom of the table last year as well and this year too. But yes there were some really close matches. If we would have won those, maybe we would have been higher up the points table. Hopefully, we can create a better team next year and perform better.
“The youngsters in our team like Manan Vora, Gurkeerat Mann, Saha or Akshar Patel – they’re all talented players and I spent a lot of time with them and tried my best to motivate them. But we haven’t been consistent due to which we’re at the bottom.
“Our foreigners haven’t fired yet. Whether it’s Miller, Maxwell or Amla – If they’re in the zone then we can win every match. If the international players perform, then the upcoming four matches can be positive for us”
On Murali Vijay as captain
“When we thought that Miller should not be the captain and Murali should take over, he won us two games post that. There is quality in him and he can lead the side. He has a really good cricketing brain. Hopefully, he’ll do well in the remaining games. He’s got the confidence now. Post his captaincy he has scored two fifties. So he is a player who’s played enough cricket to understand what is the captain’s role”.
His take on the most dangerous batsman in the world in T20 currently
“There are quite a few but I think Virat Kohli is the best right now. Because Gayle isn’t playing. Yes, AB de Villiers and David Warner are performing too. But the way Virat Kolhi is scoring his runs, he’s already scored two hundred this season in the IPL so I think he is the most brutal player right now.”
On his four-year-old son, Vedant and changing his diapers
“It felt great. It was a very rare moment for me. Because my first son was born in 2007 and that time I was dropped from the team. Since then I have had nothing to do but change diapers”, he said jokingly
On his role as a commentator and the challenges
“Commentating wasn’t really difficult (his first time). I was used to holding a bat first now I am used to holding the mike. The most difficult part was dressing up. I had to decide what to wear and keep a check on how I look”
Comparisons between Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar
“Nobody should compare to cricketers. People used to compare me with Tendulkar and Viv Richards, so that’s not fair. The era is not the same.”