While the entire country was praying for India's victory, 'Man of the Match' Virender Sehwag said he was actually supporting Sri Lanka in the high-scoring humdinger.
While the entire country was praying for India's victory in today's see-saw series opener, 'Man of the Match' Virender Sehwag said he was actually supporting Sri Lanka in the high-scoring humdinger.
"I was not tense at all because I was supporting Sri Lanka," Sehwag said after India staved off Sri Lanka's spirited response to eke out a narrow three-run win.
"I've this superstition, that whenever I support India, we lose. So I was supporting Sri Lanka here, and was never tense," explained Sehwag, who hammered a 102-ball 146, with 17 fours and six sixes in it.
In reply to India's highest ODI total of 414 for seven, Sri Lanka were going steady at 401 for five in 48 overs before they lost the plot and could not score the 11 runs required from the last over.
On his personal form, Sehwag said he was trying to bring his ODI record at par with his Test batting, and was ready to show restraint early in his innings before going berserk.
"I am in good form. I scored 200 in Tests, 50 in Twenty20, and was telling myself, if I am in good form, I have to utilise it.
"I knew I have to be careful in the first 10-15 overs, and then it would be my day when I can score 100 or more.
"I have been scoring big centuries in Test matches, but was getting out for 40s and 50s in ODIs. I thought it's time to convert those starts into big knocks," he explained.
Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar added 153 runs inside 20 overs to give India a flying start, and the Delhi dasher said he initially felt the team would settle for the 350-mark.
"When Sachin and I were batting, we thought the pitch is good, and we can easily cruise to 350. Then MS (Dhoni, who struck a 53-ball 72) really batted well, and took the pressure off me by clearing the ropes now and then," Sehwag said.
With Tillakaratne Dilshan (160), Upul Tharanga (67) and Kumar Sangakkara (90) leading Sri Lanka's reply, fortune often fluctuated, and even Dhoni, often called 'Mr Cool' for his unflappable nature, felt it was getting tense.
"It's quite tough to be cool when you score 400 and almost lose it," Dhoni said.
"In the first 35 overs, we were not really up to the mark. Maybe we just accepted that the wicket had got better or maybe we were not focussed. But the way we bowled and fielded after that, was awesome. Also we could have scored 450, which would have been an 'above-par' score," he said.
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