Simply hard to picture a Delhi squad sans Sehwag

Few would have guessed that the 147 Virender Sehwag made in very trying circumstances against Haryana in January this year in Lahli, an hour's drive from the international school he has established in Jhajjar, would be the last of his 10 centuries for Delhi. Fewer still would have guessed that when the teams were slated to meet next, he would be wearing the Haryana cap.

Indeed, it will be tough to imagine Delhi cricket without him. Even in this age of instant cricket, it was tough for cricket fans in the national capital to come to terms with the realisation that he had been not retained by the city's IPL franchise Delhi Daredevils a couple of seasons ago. But, it may be tough to reconcile to a player leaving his State side after nearly two decades of association.

Feroz Shah Kotla has been home to many international players from Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi to Virat Kohli, Bishan Singh Bedi to Maninder Singh, from Mohinder Amarnath to Madan Lal, from Manoj Prabhakar to Ishant Sharma, from Chetan Chauhan to Gautam Gambhir. But, barring Bedi's lyrical left-arm spin, little has captured the imagination of so many as Sehwag's batting.

There was a joy, heading to the Feroz Shah Kotla ground or even the Roshanara Club ground with the expectation of watching Sehwag bat in the nonchalantly entertaining manner that only he can. Now, in an era in which cricket is not followed as much as cricketers are, it is tough to imagine anyone in the Delhi squad being such a crowd puller as Sehwag has simply been.

For a good part of my life in the national capital, spanning 23 years now, Sehwag has been a dominant part of Delhi's cricket. From a time in 1996-97 when whispers of a young batsman hitting the cricket ball really hard first surfaced, Sehwag has occupied the collective consciousness of the cricket fans in the capital and beyond.

Delhi cricket will have to believe that it can rally from the departure of Sehwag from its dressing room. After all, cricket will have to go on, but if DDCA is not to slip into the abyss it notoriously inhabited in the 60s, it will have to take some remedial steps. Else, all the good work by men like Bedi and Sehwag, Mohinder Amarnath and Gambhir will go to seed.

It is not as if Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) officials were signing an NOC for the first time. Nor did Sehwag play many Ranji Trophy games since making his debut in January 1997. In fact, 15 of his 48 first-class matches for Delhi came after he played the last of his 104 Tests. And, what's more, he scored just two centuries and seven half-centuries in Delhi.

Yet, there was always an assurance that Sehwag was an integral part of the Delhi set up. The value that he brought to the team was immense. Graduating from a middle-order batsman to a devastating opener, from a journeyman to captain and elder statesman in the squad, Sehwag brought a sense of calm to the side.

As recently as the start of last season, Sehwag was eager to add the hallowed Ranji Trophy to his wonderful collection. He contributed more than 500 runs during the season, including a couple of centuries, but Delhi was unable to get past Mumbai in the quarter-finals in Cuttack. Soon to be 37, Sehwag may have decided that he needed to shift goalposts even as he continues to enjoy the game.

For fans in the Capital, watching their home team play first-class cricket may now not be as joyous and entertaining, at least for a while. The third round of league games this Ranji season takes Haryana to play in Delhi. After that game from October 15 and 18, Sehwag's admirers will probably inspire themselves to drive to Lahli and other venues in Haryana for four games.