Virender Sehwag is one of the biggest names in Indian cricket. The swashbuckling batter was aggression personified in his heyday, as records tumbled before him one after the other.

While the right-handed batter continues to be revered as one of the most attacking players limited-overs cricket has ever witnessed, one of the defining moments of his career came when Sehwag etched his name in history by becoming the first Indian batter to score a triple century in Test cricket. The iconic feat came during the memorable Multan Test against Pakistan, where Sehwag smashed 309 runs, reaching the milestone in style with a fearless six off Saqlain Mushtaq. The audacious innings not only rewrote the record books but also earned him the legendary title of ‘Sultan of Multan’.

Sehwag was part of India’s World Cup-winning teams in both 2007 and 2011 under MS Dhoni, before retiring from all formats of the game in 2015. In honour of his remarkable achievements, he was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2023.

However, what has become the talking point now is Sehwag’s candid revelation on a podcast with Padamjeet Sehrawat. The former India opener shared that he nearly retired from ODI cricket during the 2007-08 tri-series in Australia, after being dropped from the playing XI by then-captain MS Dhoni following the first three matches.

Reflecting on that phase, Sehwag said: “In the 2007-08 series against Australia, I played the first three matches and then MS Dhoni dropped me from the side. I wasn't picked for a while after that. Then I felt that if I can't be a part of the playing XI, then there is no point in playing ODI cricket.”

Frustrated, Sehwag turned to Sachin Tendulkar, who offered him career-altering advice. “I went to Tendulkar and said, ‘I am thinking of retiring from ODIs.’ He said, ‘No. I went through a similar phase in 1999-2000... You are going through a trough, but it will pass... Give yourself some time and 1-2 series, and then take a call.’” Encouraged by this, Sehwag continued playing and went on to play a crucial role in India’s 2011 World Cup triumph.

Sehwag’s revelation has once again sparked widespread debate on the internet. While MS Dhoni is celebrated by many as the greatest captain Indian cricket has seen, he has also faced his share of criticism. It is no secret that current Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir has often emphasised that India’s 2011 World Cup victory was a team effort—a subtle snub at the excessive credit often attributed solely to Dhoni, who famously sealed the win with a six over long-on.

While acknowledging Dhoni's star power, the cricketer from Jharkhand has frequently been accused of allegedly cutting short the careers of Indian cricketing stalwarts such as Dravid, Laxman, and others.

Sehwag’s recent comments have further reignited this long-standing debate, with many taking sides—some backing the legendary opener, while others have used the opportunity to criticise the former Indian skipper.(With inputs from Agencies)