This is Part 10 of Legends of Indian Cricket, our 20-part series on the players who shaped the game in India. New here? Start with Part 1: Vinoo Mankad, or read the previous part, Part 9: VVS Laxman.
Test openers were supposed to see off the new ball. Virender Sehwag, born in Delhi in 1978, preferred to hit it to the boundary. His simple philosophy, "see ball, hit ball", turned him into one of the most feared batters of his generation.
From middle order to opener
Sehwag started as a middle-order batter, scoring a century on Test debut in South Africa in 2001. Captain Sourav Ganguly moved him to open the batting, a gamble that transformed his career.
The triple centuries
- 309 at Multan in 2004, India's first Test triple century, earning him the nickname "the Sultan of Multan".
- 319 against South Africa in Chennai in 2008, reached in just 278 balls, the fastest Test triple century.
- He also scored 293 against Sri Lanka in Mumbai in 2009, missing a third triple by seven runs.
The ODI double
In December 2011 in Indore, Sehwag hit 219 against the West Indies, then the highest score in ODI history.
Career in numbers
- 104 Tests, 8,586 runs and 23 centuries, at a strike rate above 80.
- 251 ODIs and 8,273 runs.
- Part of the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 World Cup winning squads.
- Named Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for 2008 and 2009.
Legacy
Sehwag changed what Test openers believed was possible, and paved the way for aggressive modern openers such as Rohit Sharma. Since retiring in 2015, he has become known for his witty commentary and social media presence.
Statistics are for international cricket and are correct to the best of our knowledge as of October 2026; figures for active players will change.
Next in the series: Part 11: Mithali Raj.
