Virender Sehwag is generally never afraid to face a bowler but once the man did not want to take first strike due to superstition
This happened long back around 2004, test series between India and Pakistan.
The series was drawn 1-1 and the decider was in Rawalpindi. Pakistan were bowled out for 224 and Parthiv was told he would open with Sehwag.
The teenager was barely a couple of years old on the international scene and certainly did not want to do so, but the captain Sourav Ganguly had said so and Dada's word was law.
Now Sehwag was in great form with scores of 309 and 90 in the first two Tests. Parthiv begged him to take first strike but Sehwag felt he would get out first ball if he did so was not willing.
After a lot of begging, Parthiv convinced the dashing opener to face the first ball. Wonder of wonders!
Now imagine what happened? Yes, you are right, ace seamer Shoaib Akhtar came steaming in and sent his man to the pavilion!
Patel said he could not believe his eyes and realised he was in great trouble. He even thought that this would end his cricketing career.
Luckily Parthiv battled his demons to make 69 and India piled up 600. They won by an innings and 131 runs inside 4 days to clinch the series 2-1
The victory gave India its first Test series win on Pakistani soil. However, even today, when Patel recalls the moment, he wonders that how a batsman of such stature could buckle under the pressure of something called superstition
