Virender Sehwag obviously doesn't believe in leaving the ball alone when he is at the crease. Often, this tendency has been the cause of his downfall. The Delhiite doesn't believe in leaving the trickiest of questions unanswered either no matter what ripples his replies may create. Addressing the media on Monday evening after the Indian team's practice session, Sehwag spoke in an uninhibited manner and his answers are likely to raise a few eyebrows.

Consider this. When asked what has been the biggest difference after Gary Kirsten's arrival as coach, the opener — with a deadpan expression — said, "There is not much wastage of time during practice sessions. Things are much more organised now. Everything is planned and each player knows — whether it's batting, bowling or fielding — what he is doing at a specific time.” Talk of speaking one's mind!

He also admitted that after the Protean took over as team's coach things have been more intensive. "Gary (Kirsten) is a nice person and he knows his job. He knows how to handle the boys. So, definitely, there has been more intensity (amongst boys)," he said while adding: "We have been having a series of meetings for the last two days and we have been working on a few specific things. We are working out the methods to improve specific aspects of the game. His homework has been comprehensive, in fact, more than what we expected of him."

Open secret

And towards the end of an engaging press conference, Sehwag revealed that he was dropped and not rested — which of course is an open secret — in the CB tri-series in Australia despite him proving his fitness well before the toss. “I didn't practice the day before the match due to pain in the hip. But on the day of the match, I had proved my fitness before the toss. The captain and the physio had said that it depended on the player whether he is fit or not and I had told them I was fit. So I think I was dropped," he disclosed. Apart from these off-the-cuff remarks, Sehwag dwelt on the role of team's Mental Conditioning coach Paddy Upton with whom Sehwag had a lengthy chat during the course of the practice session. "We were basically discussing a few aspects on mental toughness.

“Obviously, I can't discuss all that with you. The session with Paddy (Upton) was good and I hope whatever thoughts I exchanged today will be of great use to me.

“We had Rudy Webster of the West Indies with us before and it was of great help to us. The thing is that very few people are able to answer batsmen’s queries properly and especially on mental aspects. With experts like Upton I would get four-five ideas or answers to my question to which a common person would have given just one answer,” he explained.

Working relationship

When queried about striking a working relationship with experts like Upton, the 29-year-old said: "I know whatever I discuss with him will remain confidential. Nobody knows what I am confiding in him. I know Paddy has just joined the team but he told me that whatever I discuss with him will remain with him. I trust him for that. If he doesn't keep his word, I won't trust him.

That's one thing and the other thing is that even after having played at the international level there will be a few things that you will forget from time to time. With someone like Upton around, you will get to know what you were doing in the past and what you are doing now. These are small things but they do make a lot of difference," he remarked.