I bat with more responsibility now: Sehwag

NEW DELHI: India vice-captain Virender Sehwag says he is batting with more responsibly these days, especially as he also had to perform the roles of absent seniors like Sachin Tendulkar in the one-day team earlier.

"With time, changes come in the batting too. My batting style has not changed but, yes, I bat with more responsibility now," Sehwag said.

In the West Indies, for instance, Sehwag not just roared back into form but also batted with a lot of responsibility in the one-day series in the absence of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman.

Change of roles for Sehwag, who leaves for a triangular series in Malaysia starting on Tuesday, also contributed to his attaining maturity.

"Earlier, the team management used to decide that in one-dayers 'Veeru' (his nick name) will attack and Sachin will defend from the other end. In Test matches, my role was to give a good start to the team so that it becomes easy to bat for the middle order batsmen. And I used to try to do that," the 27-year-old player said.

"But when a player plays different roles, his batting also changes. And when one realises Sachin, Ganguly and Laxman are not in the team, then one takes on more responsibility and tries to also do the roles that they used to perform," he said, referring to the one-day series.

Although India lost that series 1-4, Sehwag amassed 237 runs at 47.40 with an amazing strike rate of 95.56 to rediscover his vintage touch.

And in the four-match Test series that followed, Sehwag's 357-run aggregate (at 51.00 with a strike rate of 86.44) was second best on either side, behind Wasim Jaffer's tally of 372 (53.14).

Their contributions helped India win a Test series (1-0) in the West Indies after 35 years.

In his next international fixture, Sehwag did not get the chance to bat as the triangular series with South Africa and hosts Sri Lanka was cancelled last month.

The next stop is Kuala Lumpur, where India will play a tri-series with Australia and the West Indies.

Sehwag, who has amassed 4,066 runs in 49 Tests and 4,608 in 153 one-day internationals so far, will start with a big psychological advantage in Kuala Lumpur, especially against the West Indies.

But how did Sehwag get back his lost form?

He admits it was largely due to his almost three-hour-long meeting with well-known psychologist Rudi Webster.

"The big gain from the tour was my meeting with Rudi that helped me a lot and I felt very light after that," he said.

"If you talk about your frustrations to someone knowing that he is not going to disclose it to others, you feel much relieved and the mind gets fresh. You can say that it is now the second phase of my career, having played (international cricket) for five years."

Webster made Sehwag recall some of his best moves - the 309 against Pakistan in Multan in 2004, 195 against Australia in Melbourne in 2004, and 201 against Pakistan in Bangalore in 2005.

"He asked me what I did when I scored 309, what was my mindset, what were my habits before and after facing a ball. He reminded me about them because at times a batsman often forgets these things. I performed well after that meeting," he said.

Sehwag also lauded Webster for his cricket knowledge.

"Cricket is not about performing in one series and forgetting about it in the next few; it is about remembering your good performances and repeating them - your habits."

The result of this meeting showed in the rest of the series as Sehwag piled up runs. Contrary to popular perception, Sehwag, who has hit 12 centuries in Tests and seven in one-dayers, said he prepares meticulously before a match.

"I visualise before a match and think about the rival bowling attack - of which bowlers I can hit, which I have to be cautious against. I plan all this beforehand."

The Delhi batsman however gives the impression of being casual.

"It's easy to say that, but very difficult to comprehend because only the person who passes through the grind can understand it," he said of the pressures of international game.

"I plan ahead but it is not reflected in my face or expressions, which is a good thing."