While on the field India and Pakistan cricketers have among the fiercest sporting rivalries, quite a few of them share good camaraderie off the field. While ex-India spinner Harbhajan Singh and former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar are two examples of cricketers who share a great relationship off the field long after their international careers are over, Virender Sehwag and Akhtar also share a great relationship, an evidence of the same can be seen in a video going viral from the sidelines of the ILT20 happening in Dubai.

Both Akhtar and Sehwag are doing commentary in the T20 tournament. During one of their stints together, Sehwag went on to reveal how it was Akhtar’s long run-up that used to distract him during their playing days. 

“Abhi lagenge 10-15 seconds aane me,” (Now it will take 10-15 seconds for him to deliver) Sehwag said on Akhtar’s run-up.

When Akhtar inquired if it used to distract Sehwag, the Indian star responded by saying: “Bad thoughts used to come to mind (during his run-up). Will he hit on the toes, will he bowl a beamer. He will hit somewhere.” (Joote pe marega, Beamer Marega, Kahin To Marega).

Take a look at the viral video here:

Hamaray pyaray Viru bhai @virendersehwag yeh batatay huay k mera lamba run up ko kitna intezar kerwata tha.
And he feels it was a big distraction. @ilt20official @ilt20onzee #dpworldilt20 #allinforcricket pic.twitter.com/xwzJFFpZdp

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) January 21, 2024

Akhtar and Sehwag’s International Cricket Career

While Akhtar is regarded as one of the fastest bowlers ever to have played the game and has the record of bowling the fastest delivery ever recorded in international cricket history, clocking a speed of 161.3 kilometres/hour against South Africa in the 2003 World Cup, Sehwag was known for his fearless style of batting, an approach he adopted even in Test cricket, putting the pressure on the opposition right from the word go. Sehwag scored two triple hundreds in Test matches, one of which came against a Pakistan attack featuring Akhtar. Sehwag scored 309 in Multan as India declared for 675/5. Incidentally, Akhtar went wicketless in this match with India going to win by an innings and 52 runs.