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Indian batsman believes Indian players, if sledged, should give it back

'Why should we be quiet?' - Sehwag

Cricinfo staff

January 12, 2008

	"He has not said or done anything wrong. When two people get into a argument, you end up saying a few things, but Harbhajan knows what to say and what not to say." - Virender Sehwag © Getty Images

"We just want to come and play cricket. If they say something, we will also talk back, but hopefully there would be nothing against the spirit of cricket. Australians are famous at sledging. If they start it, we will not be quiet. It is good that we have some youngsters who can give back what is hurled on them. They have the attitude and the confidence. I mean why should we take it lying down? That's how it should be, why should we be quiet? In the next Test, considering the circumstances, there might not be any chat. Let's see."

Sehwag said a player's confidence is affected under these circumstances but the entire team was behind Harbhajan. "He has not said or done anything wrong. When two people get into a argument, you end up saying a few things," Sehwag, who hit a breezy 113 against an ACT Invitation XI, told Star Cricket. "But Harbhajan knows what to say and what not to say."

Sehwag said he could understand what Harbhajan must be going through as he was once banned for a Test in South Africa early in his career for over appealing. "You get low on confidence. I remember wondering, what did I do to get such a punishment. I didn't know, was it because I had over appealed or upar dekne ke liye? [for looking up towards the sky - perhaps referring that was construed as showing dissent with the decision].

"The whole team supported me and that really helped me recover quickly. It's not right that you come into the spotlight for the wrong reasons. It's nice to see that Anil Kumble, the entire team and the Indian board are behind Harbhajan too. He is mentally very strong and I am sure he will come out of this."

Sehwag said the team was angry at the end of the Sydney Test. "We were pretty angry. The Test could have been drawn and, had the decisions gone our way, we could have perhaps won it also."

However, he was disappointed that the Test has come to be remembered for its controversies. "This is bad for cricket. Only controversies have been highlighted. There was some great cricket there."

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