Sehwag ki maa demands a triple century
B SHRIKANT
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2004 12:00:53 AM ]

NEW DELHI: They were nervous and fidgety watching the match, may be a tad more than their neighbour who was on the verge of making history across the border.

But at the same time, they were also confident of his abilities and wanted "their boy" from Najafgarh to succeed on Pak soil.

Virender Sehwag didn't disappoint them on Sunday afternoon.

A big applause erupted in the small hall of Sehwag's home as the "Nawab of Najafgarh" reached his first double century in the first Test against Pakistan on Sunday.

And as darkness descended on his house in a narrow gully of Najafgarh, only this was on the lips of the gathering: " Hamare Veeru ne Najafgarh ka naam sari duniya main chamka diya ."

Once the neighbours left, TV crews came in. Under the spotlight, not for the first time, were the star batsman's parents, father Kishan Kumar Sehwag and mother Krishna, so proud of their son, but all the while uncomfortable facing numerous queries.

They are also getting used to being stopped in the market by people wanting to speak to them about their son. But just like Sehwag's batting, they are simple and confident people - confident that their son will earn many more laurels.

"We were confident that Veeru would do well today despite missing the double century in Australia. I am sure he would continue to thrash the bowlers tomorrow and become the first Indian to reach a triple century in Tests," said Sehwag's mother.