New Delhi
Former India opener Virender Sehwag has shed light on a fascinating decision from the inaugural IPL season, revealing why Delhi Daredevils opted for pacer Pradeep Sangwan over a young Virat Kohli in 2008.
Sehwag recalled the team composition challenges that influenced the call. According to him, Delhi had an abundance of top-order batters, making it difficult to accommodate another young batting prospect like Kohli at the time.
“In 2008, we already had a packed batting line-up,” Sehwag explained. “Shikhar Dhawan and Tillakaratne Dilshan were openers but had to bat at No. 3 and No. 5 because Gautam Gambhir and I were opening. Manoj Tiwary was at No. 4, so the top order was already crowded.”
Sehwag pointed out that Kohli, then an emerging talent, typically batted at No. 3 or 4—positions that were already occupied. “We didn’t really have space to fit him into the playing XI,” he said.
Instead, the team identified a more pressing need in their bowling department. “We lacked a bowler, so we decided to go with Pradeep Sangwan instead of Kohli,” Sehwag added, underlining the balance teams often have to strike between batting depth and bowling resources.
The decision, viewed in hindsight, is intriguing given Kohli’s rise to become one of the greatest batters in modern cricket. However, Sehwag’s explanation highlights the practical constraints franchises faced in assembling balanced squads during the IPL’s early years.
Sangwan, a promising left-arm pacer at the time, offered the team a bowling option they urgently needed, even if it meant leaving out a future superstar.
Sehwag’s recollection offers a glimpse into the strategic thinking behind team selection in the IPL’s formative phase, where immediate requirements often outweighed long-term potential.
