Sehwag never got the opportunity to become India’s regular captain.
Despite his swashbuckling exploits in all forms of the game, Sehwag never got the opportunity to become India’s regular captain. While he captained India in 12 matches between 2003 and 2012, it was only as a fill-in.
Sehwag's best time to become captain of the Indian team was in 2005 when Greg Chappell took charge as head coach. However, Rahul Dravid was handed over the captaincy after Sourav Ganguly was dropped from the team.
In 2007, MS Dhoni became the captain after Dravid stepped down while Sehwag was appointed vice-captain.
Speaking on News18 Chaupal, Virender Sehwag shared his two cents on the foreign versus domestic coach debate while also explaining how he came close to getting the India captaincy under Chappel’s stint but never really got the job.
"When Greg Chappell came, the first statement which Chappell gave was that Sehwag will be the next captain. I don't know what happened in 2 months that I got dropped from the team, let alone become captain," Sehwag said.
"I have always believed that in our country, we have good coaches who can manage the Indian team; hence we don't need foreign coaches. But when I was playing, I asked this question to my seniors 'Why do we need another foreign coach after John Wright?'. All of them, who had spent a lot of time with Indian coaches said that Indian coaches at times get biased towards players - some become favourites and those who don't are pushed at the end of the line. So when a foreign coach comes, he will look at them differently. But to be honest, that doesn't chance. Even a foreign coach can feel the pressure of dealing with a Tendulkar or a Dravid or a Ganguly or a Laxman."
Besides Greg Chappell, Sehwag played under two of the most successful foreign coaches for Team India – John Wright and Gary Kirsten.
Among the three, Sehwag rated Kirsten as the best while also opining that the Indian team doesn't need coaching but a good man manager.
"I feel Indian team doesn't need coaching; it needs a man manager who can strike and bond, friendship with all players. A coach should know which player needs how much practice and Gary Kirsten was the best in that aspect. He would make me play just 50 deliveries, Dravid 200, Sachin 200 and so on. After that, he would give us break," he remarked.