Declaring himself fit to resume cricketing activities after being 'rested' because of injury, opener Virender Sehwag on Tuesday said he missed not being in the dressing room when Sachin Tendulkar struck his landmark 100th international century last week.
"The rest period is over and I am set to train, and play in the IPL," Sehwag said.
A long-time partner of Tendulkar at the top of the order, Sehwag was not there when the latter got to his 100th international ton during the Asia Cup match against Bangladesh in Mirpur last Friday.
"I missed being in the dressing room when Tendulkar scored that 100th century."
Post the debacle in Australia, calls for senior players to retire are getting louder but Sehwag, himself 33, said nobody can force a cricketer to retire.
"I will continue to play as long as I am enjoying the game, contributing to the team, winning games for my country. Nobody can force a player to retire," he said on the sidelines of promotional event during which the Delhi Daredevils website was launched.
"It's not like a job, government job where you have to retire at 60. A cricketer can retire at 30 or 60, it's upto the player. (Sanath) Jayasuriya played till 42," he added.
The last few months have been far from impressive for Indian cricket but Sehwag is sanguine as ever, the drubbings in England and Australia, and the Asia Cup exit, notwithstanding.
"It happens with every team across the world. There is also the home advantage which every team is taking now. Time will change for us. We beat Pakistan and Sri Lanka but lost to Bangladesh. They have the ability to beat any team," he said.
About Virat Kohli's meteoric rise, Sehwag said, "He is a brilliant player. He has hit 11 (ODI) centuries and has not even played 100 matches. He has proved it. No amount of praise is enough."
"The rest period is over and I am set to train, and play in the IPL," Sehwag said.
A long-time partner of Tendulkar at the top of the order, Sehwag was not there when the latter got to his 100th international ton during the Asia Cup match against Bangladesh in Mirpur last Friday.
"I missed being in the dressing room when Tendulkar scored that 100th century."
Post the debacle in Australia, calls for senior players to retire are getting louder but Sehwag, himself 33, said nobody can force a cricketer to retire.
"I will continue to play as long as I am enjoying the game, contributing to the team, winning games for my country. Nobody can force a player to retire," he said on the sidelines of promotional event during which the Delhi Daredevils website was launched.
"It's not like a job, government job where you have to retire at 60. A cricketer can retire at 30 or 60, it's upto the player. (Sanath) Jayasuriya played till 42," he added.
The last few months have been far from impressive for Indian cricket but Sehwag is sanguine as ever, the drubbings in England and Australia, and the Asia Cup exit, notwithstanding.
"It happens with every team across the world. There is also the home advantage which every team is taking now. Time will change for us. We beat Pakistan and Sri Lanka but lost to Bangladesh. They have the ability to beat any team," he said.
About Virat Kohli's meteoric rise, Sehwag said, "He is a brilliant player. He has hit 11 (ODI) centuries and has not even played 100 matches. He has proved it. No amount of praise is enough."
