Former Indian national cricket team batsman Virender Sehwag has explained why he is not interested in taking up the role of coach for the national team. He said that his children are young and if he takes up the role, he will not be able to spend time with them, but added that he might take up the role of a mentor in the IPL.
Virender Sehwag is undoubtedly one of the fiercest batsmen to have ever played the game. The opening batsman believed in destroying teams’ bowling line-ups and did so in all three formats. He always gave India powerful starts and helped them win many games.
Virender Sehwag retired from cricket in 2015 and after that, he took up commentary on the game and then also coaching in the Indian Premier League. He played for Punjab Kings in 2014 and 2015 and then took up the role of a mentor for the franchise in 2016.
After mentoring the team for a season, he was appointed as the director of cricket for Punjab Kings. The former Indian opener was with the franchise till 2018. However, after that, he stepped away from the coaching role and has been doing commentary ever since.
Virender Sehwag also applied to be the head coach of the Indian National Cricket Team in 2017 but was not chosen as Ravi Shastri was preferred. Since then, he has been out of the coaching scene. He has not coached any international team and it is a big surprise because of the kind of experience he has.
Virender Sehwag said that he is not interested in coaching the Indian team but if the opportunity for the IPL team comes up, he will be eager to grab it.
He said that he wants to teach his sons, who are cricketers, and therefore, if he coaches the Indian team, he will not be able to devote time to them. In an interview with Amar Ujala, he explained:
“I don’t think it will be for the Indian team, but if an opportunity comes for someone in the IPL team, I can see it. Because if I become the coach of the Indian team, then I will go back to the same routine that I have had for the last 15 years.
“You played for the Indian team for 15 years, and you were away from home for eight months a year. Right now, my sons are 14 and 16 and they need me. They both play cricket. One is a bowler and the other is an opening batsman. I have to teach them… I have to spend time with them.”
If I get the role of coach or mentor in the IPL, I will think about it – Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag stressed that the Indian coaching staff should remain with the team for 8 months.
He stressed that it would be a big challenge for him if he were to take up the job. However, he is keen to take up the two-month stint as a coach in the IPL. He explained:
“If I become the coach of the Indian team, the biggest challenge for me will be that the Indian team players will be away for eight months. Then I won’t be able to devote my time to the kids. But yes, if I get the role of a coach or mentor in the IPL, I will definitely think about it,” he concluded.