Virender Sehwag on his hosting debut with Rise and Fall 2: Acting aur politics se toh main door hi hoon

Virender Sehwag makes his hosting debut with Rise and Fall, bringing his cricketing experience and candid personality to the reality show.

Cricket icon Virender Sehwag has stepped into the entertainment space as the host of Rise and Fall 2, bringing the same fearlessness that defined his approach to cricket. In a conversation with BT, the former India opener discusses his new role, the lessons he hopes to pass on to his son Aaryavir, and his views on recent developments in Indian cricket.‘Everything is fair in love and war, but don’t hurt anyone’s feelings’ Sehwag initially turned down the show offer, but a meeting with the team changed his mind. He recalls, “My first reaction was no, but when I met the team, they convinced me, saying, ‘Sir, you are the right choice for this show. We will not give you a script and we will not tell you what to do. The way you are on the field or off the field, you can host this show in a similar way.’ They made me comfortable, and that’s why I said yes.” The show revolves around power, alliances and shifting dynamics, elements familiar to cricketers. Drawing a parallel between the game show and cricket, Sehwag says, “Some days your strategies work, on others, they don’t. We were criticised when we got out for a duck but received praise when we scored a century and won a match like the 2011 World Cup. Everything is fair in love and war, but don’t hurt anyone’s feelings, don’t abuse anyone, and don’t fight anyone. ” His children (Aaryavir and Vedant), he adds, summed it up best: “Papa, jo sahi aur simple rehta hai, woh jeet jaata hai.”‘I have declined political offers many times’ While hosting may be a new avenue for Sehwag, he has no plans to venture into acting or politics. He shares, “I don’t know about politics. I have declined the offer many times. As for acting, chhoti moti acting toh hamein karni padti hai jab hum ad shoot karte hain. I keep saying I am not an actor, toh jaisi meri dialogue delivery hai, waise hi le lo. Hosting mein koi acting nahi karni, koi script nahi hai, mujhe koi dialogue yaad nahi karne, rona ya hasna nahi hai. Naturally react karna hai toh aasaan hai.” If a biopic were made on him, Sehwag believes the choice of actor should rest with the filmmakers. He says, “That’s a producer and director’s call ki kaun actor hai jo mere se milta-julta ho, jaisi main baat karta hoon aur jaise main khelta tha, waisa kuchh kar sake. The important thing is jo meri story hai, usko lene ke liye ek bada production house ho jo utne paise de sake (smiles).”

Aaryavir Sehwag, son of former India opener Virender Sehwag, is pursuing cricket and learning to navigate the expectations that come with his surname.

‘I told my son that people will both praise and criticise you’ Sehwag is following his son Aaryavir’s progress in cricket, including his India U-19 debut. Rather than shielding him from comparisons, he has prepared him for the scrutiny that comes with being a cricketer’s son. He says, “I told Aaryavir from the very start, ‘You will get the benefit of the surname. People will love you and also criticise you, saying, “Yeh toh Sehwag ka beta hai, isse toh khelna hi tha.” But when you perform, they will say that you deserve to play. ’ Aaryavir has to handle both praise and criticism. I tell him to focus on what he can do, keep practising, hone his skills and give his best every time he goes on the field, instead of worrying about what people are saying.” Recalling Aaryavir’s nerves before his first match, Sehwag adds, “When Aaryavir admitted to feeling nervous before his first game, I told him to go out there and play with a blank slate.”‘We should respect the women’s cricket team’s decision on the Asia Cup trophy’ Sehwag is full of admiration for the Indian women’s cricket team and the recognition it has received. He says, “Our women are playing superbly. People are appreciating them. It is great that they are getting the same match fee as their male counterparts, and that serves as a great motivation for girls to play any sport.” Drawing a parallel with the men’s team, he adds, “People start liking you when you start winning games, just as they did when Sourav Ganguly’s side began winning abroad after the 2000s.” Sehwag also backs the Indian women’s team’s decision to decline the offer to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Mohsin Naqvi. He says, “This is the team management and the players’ decision, and we should respect it, just like the men’s team’s decision not to shake hands. Aisa kahin nahi likha hai ICC rule mein ki hamein doosri team se haath milaana hai. If you watch old matches, usmein koi handshakes nahi hote the. Toh khelna hamaari majboori hai, par haath milaana ya nahi, hamari marzi hai.”

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