Cricket

Virender Sehwag recalls funny story behind Shoaib Akhtar’s long bowling run-up

January 23, 2024

In the realm of cricket, where heated rivalries and high-voltage drama on the field often take centre stage, a remarkable off-field camaraderie exists between former India cricketer Virender Sehwag and Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar. Despite being key players for their respective nations and having engaged in numerous intense battles on the pitch, the two cricketing legends share a bond that transcends the boundaries of competition.

Recently, a delightful anecdote surfaced as Sehwag fondly recalled a humorous incident involving Shoaib’s distinctive long bowling run-up. This story sheds light on the lighter side of their cricketing encounters, showcasing the genuine friendship that exists between these two iconic figures of the sport.

Funny banter between Virender Sehwag and Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib recently took to the social media platform ‘X’ to share a lighthearted video featuring a conversation with Sehwag. In the video, the veteran batter humorously recounted how he perceived Akhtar’s distinctive long run-up as a major distraction during their on-field encounters. Sehwag revealed that he would find himself looking down, fully aware that it would take a good 10-15 seconds for Akhtar to complete his run-up.

Amusingly, Akhtar then inquired if the extended run-up had distracted the opener. In response, Sehwag candidly admitted that many thoughts would race through his mind during those moments, with concerns ranging from the fear of getting hit on the toes to the possibility of facing a beamer aimed at his head.

“Hamaray pyaray Viru bhai @virendersehwag yeh batatay huay k mera lamba run up ko kitna intezar kerwata tha. And he feels it was a big distraction,” tweeted Akhtar.

Hamaray pyaray Viru bhai @virendersehwag yeh batatay huay k mera lamba run up ko kitna intezar kerwata tha.
And he feels it was a big distraction. @ilt20official @ilt20onzee #dpworldilt20 #allinforcricket pic.twitter.com/xwzJFFpZdp

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) January 21, 2024

Also READ: IPL 2024 set to begin from March 22, final to be played on May 26 – Report

Decoding the duo’s meet-up

Sehwag is one of the few accomplished cricketers who scored a double century in ODIs and two triple hundreds in Test Cricket. In his prime, the right-handed batter stood amongst the most feared batters of his era, single-handedly demolishing some of the most fierce bowling attacks. Notably, both Shoaib and Sehwag are currently a part of ILT20 2024‘s commentary panel, which is underway in Dubai.