Australians didn’t sledge because they’re worried about next year’s IPL auction, says Virender Sehwag

Former India opener Virender Sehwag has sensationally claimed that the Australian players didn’t resort to sledging in the recently concluded ODI series against India because they were concerned about their Indian Premier League contracts.

Speaking to India TV, Sehwag said, “They (Australian players) are scared because of the next year’s mega IPL auctions. If they had sledged the Indian players in the ODI series, then the Indian franchise owners might think before bidding high for the Australian players. This can also be a reason for them not to get involved in sledging with their Indian counterparts.”

India’s mega T20 league has been a huge success for the Australians who have traditionally participated in it throughout the years. Current stars of the Australia national team, Steven Smith and David Warner, gained international recognition after performing in the cash-rich league. Warner had even played under Sehwag in Delhi Daredevils.

Sehwag didn’t stop there as he stated that Australia no longer had great players like Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Mathew Hayden and Brett Lee among others, which has kept the current side under constant pressure.

“I think the Australian team was playing under pressure because they don’t have all the great players now. Their team was dependent on two or three players – David Warner, Steve Smith and Aaron Finch,” he said.

One cannot dismiss Sehwag’s claim either as Australia’s 4-1 loss to India in the recently concluded ODI series takes their losing tally to five from eight bilateral ODI series played away from home, since they lifted the 2015 ICC World Cup. Steve Smith’s side looks nothing like the previously feared and invincible Australian side.

Of late they have been defeated by South Africa at home, which was followed by a Test series defeat against India earlier this year. They were then knocked out of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy in the group stage itself. They came to India at the back of a 1-1 series draw with Bangladesh in a two-match Test series, which is also the first time ever that Australia lost a long-format match to Bangladesh.

Sehwag is known for his explosiveness both on and off-field and we have to wait how the Australians react to his recent claim. Earlier the right-handed batsman had created headlines by stating that he didn’t have any ‘setting’, which prevented him India’s coaching role.