PremiumHow Pakistan’s ‘killer’ reverse swing dominated India – Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly, Waqar Younis reveal it all on The Great Indian Rivalry
Netflix’s The Great Indian Rivalry: India vs Pakistan explores the cricket rivalry through reverse swing mastery. Sehwag, Waqar, and Ganguly reveal the tactics and deception of the iconic matches.
Last Updated: 12.25 PM, Jan 27, 2025
In the lead-up to the release of The Great Indian Rivalry: India vs Pakistan on Netflix, a recently dropped promo has cricket fans buzzing. The documentary, which debuts on February 7, 2025, promises to explore the intense and historic cricket rivalry between the two neighboring nations. Featuring legendary players like Virender Sehwag, Waqar Younis, and Sourav Ganguly, the promo delves into the tactical nuances of reverse swing, a skill that has long been associated with Pakistani pacers.
Virender Sehwag breaks down the art of reverse swing
Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag sheds light on the mastery of the Pakistani team in utilizing the reverse swing. “The whole Pakistan team is so adept at scratching up the new ball and generating reverse swing. Because even if the ball is scratched, torn, or worn on one side, it’s still shining on the other side. So keep your eyes on the shiny side of the ball. If the shine is on the left side, then it will swing outwards. If the shine is on the right side, the ball will swing inwards,” he explained.
Legendary Pakistani pacer Waqar Younis, known as one of the pioneers of reverse swing, responded with insights into how batsmen adapted to the tactic and the countermeasures bowlers took. “Once the batsmen, they started knowing about reverse swing; they were also smart. So they were keeping a really close eye on the shiny side. So what we tried to do then was, we started hiding it,” Waqar shared.
Sourav Ganguly on the deceptive strategies of Pakistani bowlers
Adding to this, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly detailed the strategic moves of the Pakistani bowlers to outwit batsmen. “They’d hide the ball while running. If you watch their action or their run-up, they’d keep it hidden so that the batsman doesn’t see the ball in front of them, and at the last minute there’d be a change,” Ganguly revealed.
Waqar elucidated the benefits of concealing the ball. “If I’m holding it here, and if I get into my action, and he hasn’t seen the shine, one hundred fifty clicks coming at you, that’s a killer,” he said, underlining the speed and skill that made reverse swing a lethal weapon in Pakistan’s arsenal.
Emotional and cultural context of the rivalry
The documentary series promises to bring to life not just the technicalities of the game but also the emotional and cultural significance of the India-Pakistan rivalry. Fans of both nations are eagerly anticipating the deep dive into the intricacies of their cricketing battles, with reverse swing being just one of many fascinating aspects.
As cricket enthusiasts gear up for The Great Indian Rivalry: India vs Pakistan, the revelations in the promo have only heightened expectations. It will offer a glimpse into the complex past and uncertain present of one of the sport’s greatest rivalries.
Excitement builds ahead of the release
Set your calendars for February 7, 2025, as this highly anticipated Netflix release is poised to captivate cricket enthusiasts worldwide.