The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) honoured former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag by naming Gate No 2 of Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi after him. Sehwag expressed his gratitude and thanked DDCA for honouring him with the gesture. But DDCA committed a huge blunder while honouring Sehwag and ended up disrespecting Karnataka cricketer Karun Nair. On the Virender Sehwag gate, it is written that he remains the only Indian cricketer to score a triple century in Tests, which is not true. Nair scored a triple century against England in 2016 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai.
Sehwag told reporters during the event,
It’s an honour to have a gate named after me at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi. I remember when I started off, I used to daily cross this gate and now it has my name. There will be many more cricketers from this state who will have stands, gates, pavilions named after them; but I am glad that I am the first one. I feel very fortunate and would like to thank the DDCA for this honour.
Though Sehwag regretted that his wife and mother were not able to attend the event. He added,
My wife and mother are not here as they are not well. I would have loved if they were here with me today.
Karnataka Ranji team’s Twitter page pointed out the glaring mistake committed by DDCA.
[“Only Indian” to score a triple century in test cricket] should’ve been “First Indian…”. Karun Nair did score a triple century in tests. pic.twitter.com/87UoGGhhLo
— Karnataka Ranji Team (@RanjiKarnataka) October 31, 2017
As the head of DDCA’s operations, former Indian cricketer and member of the World Cup-winning squad of 1983, Madan Lal also expressed his views. He said,
Sehwag changed the way game was played in India. Earlier we used to score 240-250 runs in a day, but after he came, 350-360 became possible. He was a major reason why India won so many matches.
Head Coach @RaviShastriOfc and #TeamIndia members congratulate @virendersehwag after the gate at Feroz Shah Kotla was named after him. pic.twitter.com/bveVvQtUrP
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 31, 2017
We hope that DDCA rectifies their mistake. Sehwag is the only Indian cricketer to score two triple centuries in his Test career. Perhaps that can be written on the gate to avoid further controversy.
