Sehwag finally hangs up bat

Dubai - Sehwag had clarified that his announcement was subject to his signing up for the upcoming Masters Champions League (MCL).

Barely 12 hours had elapsed after having announced his retirement plans when India's Virender Sehwag went on Twitter to officially confirm that he had hung his bat from international cricket and the IPL.
Sehwag, in an exclusive chat with the Khaleej Times in Dubai on Monday evening, had admitted that he had not yet retired. "I have not retired, not yet, but very soon you will hear from me," he had stated.
Sehwag had clarified that his announcement was subject to his signing up for the upcoming Masters Champions League (MCL). However, he insisted that he hadn't signed the MCL contract as his main objective of coming to Dubai was to promote the tournament.
The question though remained, did Sehwag sign on the dotted line during his visit on Monday as he was pictured seated next to Zafar Shah, chairman of MCL, signing papers before thoroughly browsing through them prior to the press conference.
Sehwag's retirement on Tuesday after landing in New Delhi coincided with his 37th birthday. He always took his decisions from the heart and never regretted. Like, missing a triple ton on the back of two earlier 300s to his name.
Sehwag told Khaleej Times in an exclusive interview he doesn't regret missing out on a record third triple century in the final match of the 2009 Test series against Sri Lanka at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
A million hearts came to a virtual grind as Sri Lanka's leg-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan desperately held on to a return catch to deny Sehwag not only a record triple ton but also a slice of Test history.
With two triple tons under his belt and seven runs from a historic third, Sehwag who floored the Lankan attack on his way to 293, played into the hands of Muralitharan.
It was heartbreak for the fans who had assembled on the morning of the third day's play as Sehwag trotted back to the pavilion. Alas it was history denied. Six years down the line, the Nawab of Najafgarh, was his customary self, stating he has 'no regrets' on missing a place in the sun.
"If I want to regret, then I will have to regret every time I get out on 90, 190 or 290s. I always think that I am the luckiest person to reach that mark. I can say that I got an opportunity to score a triple century, but at the same time I can say that I am the only Indian player to score two triple tons and a 290 plus."
Australian Sir Don Bradman and the West Indies' duo of Brian Lara and Chris Gayle are the only other batsmen to have scored two triple centuries. Sehwag, however, is a cut above them with two triple centuries and a five-wicket Test haul during the 2008 home series against Australia in Delhi.
Sehwag, who has been out of favour from the Test and ODI teams, said he was proud to serve Indian cricket during an illustrious career spanning 18 years. "I consider myself lucky to have played 100 plus Tests and having scored 23 Test centuries. It was an honour to play for my country," he concluded.
randall@khaleejtimes.com

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• Masters Champions League