Virender Sehwag, one of India’s most destructive opening batters, turns 46 today, October 20. Sehwag was a huge asset for the Indian batting unit in the 2000s and early 2010s mainly due to his natural flare for racking up runs quickly. The Nawab of Najafgarh broke the general conventions in Test cricket to create his own fierce yet elegant batting style.
His bold approach spearheaded India to one of its most successful eras. Interestingly, he is also one of the few players who won the ICC treble — the 2002 Champions Trophy, 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup. On his special day, let’s take a deep dive into his best performances, his playing style and the impact he had on the sport.
Virender Sehwag’s playing style
Virender Sehwag was not afraid of taking risks despite having played the major chunk of his career as an opening batter. He searched for opportunities in moments considered tricky at the time. Sehwag’s lack of footwork often got him into trouble against the moving ball, but it also helped him create space for his unique hand-eye coordination. There weren’t many cricketers who hit the ball harder square on the off side. He was particularly effective against spinners, targeting some of the world’s best.
Virender Sehwag’s impact on cricket
In the era of controlled and more tactic-heavy cricket, Virender Sehwag revolutionised the sport with his aggression and fearless approach. Sehwag built an extraordinary career with his knack for finding boundaries. The top-order batter amassed Test runs at an insanely high pace. His uncomplicated batting approach was about scoring as many runs as quickly as possible.
Sehwag’s street-smart abilities and rather ferocious style combined for a perfect formula that allowed him to exploit the weaknesses of the bowlers he faced. His unique playing style has now become a significant part of T20 cricket. We see several cricketers now approach the game to score runs at a lightning-fast pace.
Virender Sehwag’s Top 5 performances
309 vs Pakistan, 2004
Virender Sehwag took the cricketing world by storm after smashing a triple century against India’s arch-rivals Pakistan 20 years ago. He registered a whopping 39 boundaries and six maximums in the innings. At the time, he broke the record for the highest individual score in Test cricket by an Indian while also helping his team secure a victory by an innings and 52 runs.
319 vs South Africa
In 2008, Virender Sehwag broke his Test record with another stupendous performance against South Africa. He scored a mammoth 319 against the Proteas with the match eventually ending in a draw. Sehwag hit 42 boundaries and five sixes in that innings.
201 vs Sir Lanka, 2008
One of Virender Sehwag’s classic Test knocks came at Galle in August 2008. Competing against a star-studded Sri Lanka side, Sehwag produced a 201-run masterclass in the first innings. Playing aggressively, he smashed 22 boundaries and four sixes. His knock helped India win the match by 170 runs.
219 vs West Indies, 2011
Virender Sehwag was also effective in the limited-overs format in his career. Nearly 13 years ago, he showcased his power-hitting abilities against the West Indies in an ODI fixture. Sehwag scored 219 runs in a mere 149 deliveries in Indore. He racked up 25 boundaries and seven sixes in the game.
122 vs Chennai Super Kings, 2014
Opening the innings for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) 10 years ago, Virender Sehwag produced one of the best knocks ever in the IPL knockout phase. He smashed 122 runs in 58 deliveries with 12 boundaries and eight sixes. Sehwag’s heroics were enough to seal a 24-run victory for Punjab and their first-ever IPL final in IPL history.
Virender Sehwag’s impact on young cricketers
The Indian opening great was a massive source of inspiration for young cricketers in the early to mid-2000s. Former Indian legend Harbhajan Singh has extensively discussed how Sehwag changed the opening trend in cricket while acting as a ‘hero’ for the youth.
The legendary opener had all the four qualities — aggression, leadership, character, and style of play — one looks for in the youth. His approach was something Indian youngsters like Rishabh Pant and Abhishek Sharma apply in their game now. Sehwag’s bulldozing tactics have inspired the newer generation to play their game without fear.
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