Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag recently reminisced about the iconic bowl-out between India and Pakistan during the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007. The match, which took place in the group stage, ended in a thrilling tie and was decided by the first-ever bowl-out in cricket history. Sehwag played a vital role in India’s victory, and he recently revealed the advice he gave to captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni regarding the bowl-out tactic.
In the Group D encounter between India and Pakistan, both teams were paired together along with Scotland. After a captivating match that ended in a tie, a bowl-out was used to determine the winner. Each team’s bowlers were given a chance to hit the unguarded stumps at the opposite end. Sehwag, along with teammates Harbhajan Singh and Robin Uthappa, successfully hit the stumps for India. On the other hand, Pakistan failed in all three of their attempts, resulting in India’s triumph. Dhoni’s strategic use of spinners played a crucial role in India’s success.
Virender Sehwag, who was not considered a specialist bowler, revealed that he was the first to volunteer for the bowl-out. In the recent episode of “Breakfast With Champions,” Sehwag shared the advice he gave to Dhoni regarding the selection of bowlers for the bowl-out. He suggested that Dhoni refrain from using regular bowlers, expressing concerns that they might struggle with their run-up and miss the target.
Sehwag also mentioned that the Indian team had practiced bowl-outs during warm-up fixtures leading up to the tournament. This preparation proved beneficial as India emerged victorious in the historic bowl-out against their arch-rivals, Pakistan. Sehwag acknowledged that their prior practice sessions helped the team get accustomed to the unique challenge, although he was unsure if other teams had also prepared for such situations.