Name Hindi: वीरेंद्र सहवाग / Gender Man
Virender Sehwag: India’s Destructive Opener
Virender Sehwag, affectionately known as “Viru” by his fans, is a former Indian cricketer commonly renowned for his aggressive style and explosive batting. Born on October 20, 1978 in Delhi, India, he holds numerous records in both Test and One-Day International (ODI) cricket.
Career Highlights
- Test Matches: Sehwag played 104 test matches from 2001 to his retirement in 2013 where he scored over 8500 runs at an average of nearly 50.
- One Day Internationals: In ODIs, he featured in 251 matches scoring more than 8000 runs. He was noted for his high strike rate often putting the opposition under early pressure.
- T20 International: In the shortest format of the game, Sehwag made appearances in only 19 games garnering just around 400 runs with a highest score of 68 against England.
Terrorizing bowlers across all formats, his fearless approach to batting coupled with raw power was hugely influential in defining how opening batsmen play today. A right-handed opening batsman, Sehwag was famous for his attacking style especially during the first fifteen overs.
Famous Achievements
Apart from being one of India’s best openers, he led the team to many memorable victories and had set several notable individual records.
- Triple Centuries:To date, Sehwag is the only Indian batsman to score two triple centuries in Test matches. The first was against Pakistan which he scored 309 runs and the second against South Africa where he made a phenomenal 319 runs.
- ODI Double Century: In addition to his test match heroics, Virender Sehwag also holds the record of being the second player after Sachin Tendulkar to score a double century in ODIs. He achieved this feat on December 8, 2011, against West Indies by smashing an astounding 219 off just 149 balls.
- Highest Individual Score: His knock of 219 remains as one of the highest individual scores in an innings in the history of One Day Internationals.
Life After Retirement
Post-retirement, Virender Sehwag continues to stay associated with cricket just like how he did during his playing days; through commentary and public speaking engagements. An active social media user, Sehwag entertains fans with humorous takes on numerous issues apart from his cricket insights and wisecracks.
In conclusion,Virender Sehwag’s impact extends beyond his contributions in leading India to victory on many occasions; perhaps even more significant is how he aggressively altered traditional standard batting norms forever. Sehwag’s fearless hitting right from the start of an inning will continue to be remembered fondly by cricket lovers all over.
