The most shocking incident involving Virender Sehwag: John Wright tenure as India’s head coach is remembered fondly as India won the 2002 Natwest Final in England and reached the World Cup final a year later. Wright also helped developed several youngsters into world-class performers.
However, with one of those, Virender Sehwag, Wright had a fall-out and he ended up slapping Sehwag. BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla disclosed this incident in 2013.
During the ODI series in England in 2002, the then coach of Team India, John Wright, was very angry with Sehwag after the batsman’s continuous failures, moreover the manner of his dismissals. Shukla, who was the team manager at that time, recalled that one day John Wright got so angry that he slapped Virender Sehwag.
When captain Sourav Ganguly came to know that Wright had slapped Virender Sehwag, he was furious with the coach and demanded an explanation.
John Wright told Shukla that he had vented his anger on Sehwag as a teacher. John said that he had “only pushed, not slapped” the opener, further expressing his frustration with Sehwag throwing away his wicket. But Sourav Ganguly was adamant that Wright would have to apologize in any case.
Senior cricketer and former captain Sachin Tendulkar stepped in the matter with a different opinion.
Rajiv Shukla revealed that Sachin took him aside and said that no matter what happens, the coach should not be forced to apologize. The Master Blaster rationalized this by pointing out that if the coach apologizes he will lose respect within the team.
After the conversation with Tendulkar, Rajiv Shukla explained this to Sehwag who calmly understood the situation and said that there is no need for Wright to apologize. The matter was closed then.
This incident has is rarely brought up by any of the players and Sehwag, Ganguly, Tendulkar and the rest of the then Indian players have always spoken highly of John Wright.
