Happily-retired Viru fast becoming a laughter guru
Something of Virender Sehwag’s quick wit was evident even when he was playing. And now that he’s done with demonising bowlers, he’s becoming India’s speaking Wodehouse —delivering his one-liners as a television commentator with an inimitable straight face and perfect timing.
There are times he doesn’t have to say a word. Like at a city event, organised by TAP Restro Bar and 92.7 BIG FM yesterday, Viru was asked if he’d seen shades of Virender Sehwag in any young Indian batsmen around. The clear ‘nah’ was expressed with just a coolly dismissive nod of the head before he remarked: “Next question.”
Ever to take himself lightly, he would straight-bat a googly too. As if to throw him slightly off-guard, Sehwag was asked to re-live his experience while changing his sons’ diapers. “It felt great as it was a very rare moment for me. My first son (Aryavir) was born in 2007. At the time I was dropped from the Indian team. So I had nothing to do except change his diapers,” he said, drawing peals of laughter around.
The spark as cricket’s future laughter guru was getting increasingly noticeable during Sehwag’s India days. He revealed that instead of brooding over his dismissals — something that irked coach John Wright — he would commentate upon the live session and humour his dressing room colleagues. “Then I thought I could make people laugh,” he said, adding that he found dressing up appropriately before the microphone more challenging than commenting on the sport.
It was natural he’d be asked about the melodies (of Kishore Kumar) that he would hum while batting. “When you have too many thoughts, it’s impossible to divert them,” he said. “Songs would allow me to regain focus and ward off the needless clutter of thoughts.” Then why not regale us with his favourite number?
“Usually I end my shows with a song. If you want me to sing and leave right away, then I’m ready,” he said, the Sehwag-sim lightening up the mood again.
There are times he doesn’t have to say a word. Like at a city event, organised by TAP Restro Bar and 92.7 BIG FM yesterday, Viru was asked if he’d seen shades of Virender Sehwag in any young Indian batsmen around. The clear ‘nah’ was expressed with just a coolly dismissive nod of the head before he remarked: “Next question.”
Ever to take himself lightly, he would straight-bat a googly too. As if to throw him slightly off-guard, Sehwag was asked to re-live his experience while changing his sons’ diapers. “It felt great as it was a very rare moment for me. My first son (Aryavir) was born in 2007. At the time I was dropped from the Indian team. So I had nothing to do except change his diapers,” he said, drawing peals of laughter around.
It was during the recent World T20 that he lent a distinct flavour to Hindi commentary, over the years considered staid and unimaginative. Already, Sehwag-ism such as ‘ Boss ki wife ko, haathi ke size ko, aur Nehra ji ke advice ko saara dash salaam karta hai’ is a rage on Twitter.
The spark as cricket’s future laughter guru was getting increasingly noticeable during Sehwag’s India days. He revealed that instead of brooding over his dismissals — something that irked coach John Wright — he would commentate upon the live session and humour his dressing room colleagues. “Then I thought I could make people laugh,” he said, adding that he found dressing up appropriately before the microphone more challenging than commenting on the sport.
It was natural he’d be asked about the melodies (of Kishore Kumar) that he would hum while batting. “When you have too many thoughts, it’s impossible to divert them,” he said. “Songs would allow me to regain focus and ward off the needless clutter of thoughts.” Then why not regale us with his favourite number?
“Usually I end my shows with a song. If you want me to sing and leave right away, then I’m ready,” he said, the Sehwag-sim lightening up the mood again.
