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"Tell Coach Not To Come Near Me": Virender Sehwag Recalls Ugly Fight With Greg Chappell

Akshita Patel

Virender Sehwag had an ugly clash with Greg Chappell [Source: @crikistaan/X.com]Virender Sehwag had an ugly clash with Greg Chappell [Source: @crikistaan/X.com]

Virender Sehwag, one of India’s most fearless openers, has recalled a fiery confrontation with former India coach Greg Chappell. Sehwag revealed how hurtful words from Chappell resulted in a heated argument, prompting then-captain Rahul Dravid to intervene and cool tempers. 

The altercation took place in 2005-06, a bleak time for Indian cricket. Chappell had succeeded John Wright as coach and was hoped to lead the team to even greater heights.

Rather, his contentious choices and tense relations with veteran players caused turmoil. Sourav Ganguly was removed as captain, senior stars like Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman were unsettled, and even Sehwag found himself at odds with the coach.

How Virender Sehwag’s 184 Was Born Out Of Anger With Greg Chappell?

Speaking on the Life Saver podcast, Virender Sehwag recalled an ugly dressing room fight with Greg Chappell. The ex-coach warned the batter to move his feet to score runs and threatened to drop him.

Sehwag was irked, leading to a confrontation so intense that the then captain, Rahul Dravid, had to intervene and separate the two individuals.

"Greg Chappell’s words hurt me. There was a time when I wasn't scoring runs, and he told me, 'if you don’t move your feet, you won’t score runs at the international level. I replied back saying, 'Greg, I have scored 6000 runs in Test cricket at an average of more than 50'. He said it doesn’t matter and again told me if I don’t move my feet, I won’t score runs. We had a big argument. Rahul Dravid, who was the captain then, had to separate us," Sehwag said.

The next day, Sehwag, hurt but unfazed, went on to smash the West Indies bowlers, racing to 99 before lunch and eventually scoring 184. Upon return to the dressing room, Sehwag warned Dravid not to let Chappell wander anywhere near him.

"The next day, when I was going to bat, he said, 'Make sure you score runs; otherwise, I will drop you.' I was like, 'Do whatever you want'. When I took strike, I started smashing the ball and reached 99 runs before lunch. When I was entering the dressing room, Dravid was standing there. I told him, 'Tell you coach not to come near me.' I continued batting. I was out close to tea after scoring 184. Then I looked at him [Chappell] standing in a corner and told him, 'Doesn’t matter if I move my feet or not, I know how to score runs'" he added.

Why Was The Greg Chappell Era Controversial?

The Greg Chappell era (2005–2007) was one of the darkest in Indian cricket. Unlike John Wright, who had built a young, hungry side with Sourav Ganguly as captain, Chappell inherited a settled team filled with superstars. 

His my way or the highway approach clashed with the dressing room. Moreover, he pushed for unconventional moves, such as Sachin batting at No.4, Irfan Pathan being promoted as an all-rounder, and Ganguly’s ouster as captain in favour of Rahul Dravid. 

These changes, combined with his autocratic approach, drove seniors away and unsettled youngsters who remained loyal to Ganguly. Ultimately, his inability to gel with Indian cricket’s culture doomed his tenure.