Virender Sehwag ‘taking things as they come’ after missing out on India job

Virender Sehwag may have been ignored for the post of India team coach, but he isn’t sulking, or so it seemed on Tuesday. In fact, the former India opener hinted that he never really wished to coach the team.

Speaking to HT on Tuesday to promote his upcoming show Umeed India, which will commence from July 20 on Epic TV, Sehwag said the coaching offer was unexpected.

“I haven’t thought about my future plans about what I can do differently. I am taking things as they come. I got a coaching offer, which I had never thought of. It was also quite different (job), but I did not want to do. But the offer still came,” Sehwag told HT.

READ | Bharat Arun returns as India bowling coach, Sanjay Bangar assistant coach

Sehwag was the first to apply, while Ravi Shastri threw his hat in the ring when the BCCI reopened the application process after Anil Kumble resigned following India’s Champions Trophy final loss to Pakistan.

Asked about the appointment of Shastri as the India team coach and his choice of support staff, Sehwag said he had no comments to make.

READ | Virender Sehwag chooses silence after India head coach snub

Post retirement, Sehwag has become more of a Twitter personality, having an opinion on varied issues, which have drawn guffaws and occasionally been criticised.

Asked about his TV show Umeed India --- where he will profile India’s top 13 athletes and their preparations for 2020 Tokyo Olympics --- Sehwag said, “It is a very different show.

“It will be a great learning (experience) for me as well. I can share the athletes’ stories with my kids or at my school (Sehwag International). My first batch of Class XII has just passed out. There are around 25-30 kids in my school who have represented Haryana state at the national level, which is big moment. In future too, if there are any shows which excite me, I will take them up.”