Salute to Virender Sehwag - The best Indian opener

Salute to Virender Sehwag – The best Indian opener: Virender Sehwag, one of the most destructive openers in the world cricket and India’s pride has retired from international cricket. He can be credited for being the batsman who revolutionized the approach, towards opening batting and created a sense of fear among opponent bowlers right at the start. He played his last test match against Australia and last One day Internationals against Pakistan in 2013. He made his Test debut against South Africa in 2001 and played his first ODI against Pakistan in 1999.

Viru has scored 17,253 runs international runs across all formats. He has played along with stalwarts of Indian cricket like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Anil Kumble.

In his 104 Test matches career, he scored 8586 runs. His breakthrough year was 2002-03 when he scored 1040 runs in 9 Tests including 195 on day 1 of the MCG Test. Sehwag attacked the bowlers and once he got the starts converted them into hundreds and his hundreds were more often big ones. His best performances for India including 2 triple tons against Pakistan in Multan (319) and against South Africa (309) in Chennai.

Along with that he also has 4 double centuries and 23 centuries of them 14 are scores of 150 plus. Despite the fact that he played big innings, he scored runs at quick pace. He was a key figure in helping India reach number 1 Test rankings. His partnerships with Sachin Tenduklar were a special treat to watch as they scored tons of runs together. Some of his greatest innings came in Mumbai (293), Galle (201 and 50), Kanpur, Kolkata, Colombo and an attacking 68 balls 83 on the 4th evening of Chennai Test in December 2008 that helped India to win Test match on the last day.

He is 1 among the 4 cricketers who have scored 2 triple centuries in Test cricket along with Sir Don Bradman, Chris Gayle and Brian Lara. He is only Indian to score triple centuries in Test matches. In One Day Internationals he scored 8273 runs with 15 centuries with best score of 219 runs which came against West Indies at Indore. He has an average of 35.05 from 251 matches. Out of his 15 centuries 14 brought a victory for India.

Sehwag was also a vital cog of the Indian team that reached the finals of World Cup 2003 and also of the one that won the 2011 edition in India. His aggressive attitude in ODIs made him a dangerous opener. His biggest strength was his quick reflexes, supreme hand eye coordination and minimal footwork. He scored his maiden ODI century against New Zealand just off 69 balls and other memorable innings include 126 against England in the Champions Trophy 2002, 125 at Hamilton in 2009, 175 in the opening match of the World Cup 2011. He is the 2nd player to score a double century in ODI cricket and his 219 s also the second highest score in 50 overs cricket.

Viru was a part of the Indian team which lifted the 1^st T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007. T20 was the format which perfectly suited his aggressive batting style and he had the license to go for the kill and play his natural game. Sehwag’s highest individual score in T20Is is 68. He made his T20I debut against South Africa in 2006 and was the 1^st captain to lead the Indian team in the format. He has also played for Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League.

His contribution in domestic cricket tournaments like Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Irani Trophy is also worth emulating for the youngsters. Sehwag has played for Delhi for so many years and from the Ranji Trophy 2015-16 season shifted to Haryana. He was one of the top scorers for Delhi last year.

He was a useful option for short spells of spin bowling as well and possessed a golden arm. He picked crucial wickets and broke threatening partnerships; his best figures in Test cricket is 5/104 and in ODIs is 4/6.

Virender Sehwag was an entertainer and people thronged the stadium and would be glued at the TV screens to see his explosive batting. With his retirement definitely an era in Indian cricket ended an era where their opener walked out with singular intent of getting his team the advantage without being concerned who the opponent was, how different or difficult the conditions were and what the situation of the game read.

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