I don’t feel any pressure or burden because of my father’s name: Aaryavir Sehwag

Aaryavir Sehwag, born October 18, 2007, made his India Under-19 debut during the one-day series against Australia that began September 18 in Rajkot. The 18-year-old right-handed batter and right-arm leg-break bowler earned his maiden India call-up for the three-match ODI series, which featured matches on September 18, 21, and 23. Aaryavir was included in the squad for the 50-over matches and so was Rahul Dravid’s son, Anvay

Across the three one-day matches, Aaryavir scored 34, 47, and 28. In the final game on September 23, he got out attempting to hit a six after a promising start, a moment that left him reflecting on his approach to building an innings. Speaking about his performances in the series, Aaryavir expressed disappointment at his inability to convert starts into substantial scores.

“I couldn’t build a big innings in all three matches, despite getting starts. In the final game, I also got out trying to hit a six after a good start. So I was quite disappointed,” Aaryavir told Sportstar.

How Aaryavir performed in the Australia U-19 series

The young batter identified a key learning from the series regarding how to construct longer innings and accumulate runs at the U-19 level. He recognised that dividing a match into different phases and building substantial totals are essential for establishing credibility in professional cricket.

“I’ve learnt that you have to divide the game into different phases and build long innings if you want to score big runs. If you want to make a name and earn respect in the cricket fraternity, big runs matter,” Sehwag mentioned.

Aaryavir’s father, Virender Sehwag, represented India across all three formats during his international career. Virender played 104 Tests, 251 ODIs, and 19 T20Is, accumulating over 17,000 international runs in combined formats. He scored 8586 Test runs at an average of 49.34 with 23 hundreds and 32 fifties, while his ODI record included 8273 runs at an average of 35.05 with 15 centuries and 38 half-centuries. Virender also holds the distinction of scoring two triple hundreds in Test cricket, an achievement unique among Indian batters.

When asked about the weight of his father’s name and legacy, Aaryavir was clear about his mindset. He stated that he carries pride in his surname and his father’s accomplishments for India, but does not view them as a source of pressure or burden.

“I am quite proud of my surname and my father’s achievements. I don’t feel any pressure or burden because of my father’s name. I am quite proud of what he has done for India,” Aaryavir said.

Also Read: ‘I have had many falls in my life’ – Virender Sehwag on setbacks and comebacks

The young cricketer also addressed how he manages external commentary and expectations as he builds his own career. He explained his approach to handling both praise and criticism from observers, emphasising the importance of maintaining focus on his own process.

“I am trying to create a mindset where I tell myself that people’s comments are just their opinions, and they don’t affect me much, whether they are good or bad, whether they are praising me or criticising me. I will try to keep a cool head and focus only on my process and my batting. That is better,” the right-handed batter said.