“We don’t go to poor countries,” Virender Sehwag explains why Indians don’t play other leagues, recalling how he refused $100,000 from BBL team

Virender Sehwag was earning big bucks at the IPL and refused to take a pay cut to play in the Big Bash League.

“We don’t go to poor countries,” Virender Sehwag explains why Indians don’t play other leagues, recalling how he refused $100,000 from BBL team

Virender Sehwag (Image via Imago)

Virender Sehwag is known for his laid-back and humorous nature, often cracking jokes whenever he can. He recently appeared in the popular Club Prairie Fire podcast and joked about refusing to move to “poor countries” to play cricket. 

In the podcast, Virender Sehwag was asked by Adam Gilchrist if he ever sees any Indian player featuring in any other leagues than the IPL. Sehwag laughed at the question, jokingly pointed out how the Indian players are rich and will not take a lower paycheck. He narrated the time he was approached by the Big Bash League, but rejected it as it was too low.  

YouTube video
No, Don't need, we are rich people, we don't go to poor countries for other leagues. I still remember when I was dropped from Indian team, I was playing IPL, then I got offer from BBL that I should participate in Big Bash. I said okay how much money, they said $100,000. I said I can spend that money in my holidays, even last night bill was more than $100,000. 
Virender Sehwag on Club Prairie Fire

At the time, Sehwag was paid $834,000 (approximately ₹4.5 crore) by Delhi Daredevils. He was then released in 2014, being purchased by Kings XI Punjab for ₹3.2 crore. 

Virender Sehwag drops Hardik Pandya from his 2024 T20 World Cup playing XI 

Many fans and former players have started predicting their teams for the 2024 T20 World Cup, Virender Sehwag has taken his shot at it. The former Indian opener named India regulars for the squad, like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah. 

Virender Sehwag
Hardik Pandya (Image via Imago)

To the surprise of many, he decided to drop Mumbai Indians captain and Indian star-all rounder, Hardik Pandya from the playing XI. He said Pandya should be in the 15, but would rather play Rinku Singh or Shivam Dube as finishers. 

Pandya has had a terrible season so far, managing only 151 runs in eight innings and four wickets. Meanwhile Dube has smashed 311 runs and Singh is having regular explosive cameos. 

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