Reliving Virender Sehwag’s Top 5 knocks on his 42nd birthday


Reliving Virender Sehwag’s Top 5 knocks on his 42nd birthday
Virender Sehwag

Today, 42 years ago, somewhere in Najafgarh, Delhi, a boy was born, little did any know about the laurels he would bring to his nation. As you might have guessed already, the boy is none other than our very own Virender Sehwag, India’s most destructive opener. The man who entertained the world with his power-hitting for 14 years across formats still continues to amaze us with his witty and hilarious comments on social media.

It’s never easy to pick the best 5 innings for a player of Sehwag’s magnitude. But on its 42nd birthday, we thought it’s worth a try. Sehwag has 17,000 runs and 39 centuries to his name during a career that spanned more than a decade, 1999-2013. So let’s get going with the top 5 innings of his spectacular career.

1. 319 vs. South Africa, Chennai 2008

Winning the toss, the visitors chose to bat first as they put up a humongous total of 540 runs on the board. It is never easy catching upto a total this big but the Indian top-order was up to the mark.

Even under tremendous pressure from the likes of Dale Steyn, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel. Sehwag rose to the occasion and slammed his fastest triple hundred in test cricket. The 304 ball knock featured 42 boundaries and 5 sixes as the Nawab of Najafgarh scored with a strike rate in excess of 100.

It was due to Sehwag’s inhumane effort and support from Wasim Jaffer and Rahul Dravid that India could draw the game.

2. 195 vs. Australia, Melbourne 2003

Making his debut in an era when Australia was ruling World cricket, a young Sehwag took the fight to the mighty Aussies at the MCG on boxing day. On a day when no other batsman crossed the 50 run mark, the Indian opener didn’t give up as kept toiling ball by ball.

Facing an Aussie bowling attack laced with the likes of Simon Katich, Steve Waugh and Brett Lee, Sehwag went on hit the highest score by an Indian at the iconic MCG. He hit 25 boundaries and smashed 5 sixes during his stay in the middle.

Unfortunately, his effort went in vain as Australia came back stronger and bagged the game by 9 wickets. But the flamboyant youngster left his mark that day at the MCG.

3. 309 vs. Pakistan, Multan 2004

A game between the arch-rivals is nothing short of war and the fact that it was India’s first Test on Pakistan soil in 15 years only magnified the burden. But none of it mattered for the Indian who knew only one thing, that is how to destroy bowlers.

The knock which lasted 309 balls and 531 minutes is one of the best the World has ever witnessed. What made it even more special is the fact that it came against a side which boasted the likes of Saqlain Mushtaq, Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Akhtar.

Thanks to Sehwag’s unwavering patience and an absolute gem of an innings, India decimated Pakistan by an innings and 52 runs. This innings of his is still the highest score Tests by an Indian away from home.

4. 219 vs. West Indies, Indore 2011

Facing the likes of Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul, Dareen Sammy and Keiron Pollard at their finest, Sehwag smashed 219 off just 149 balls. He registered what was the highest individual score in ODI back then as India posted a mammoth 418 in their quota of 50 overs.

No one saw the storm coming when Sehwag completed his first 50 off 41 balls. It was the like the calm before the storm as the 100 came off 69 balls, his 150 off 112 balls and the rest is history. The knock featured 25 boundaries and 7 maximums off the bat of the white ball maestro.

Prior to this game, his opening partner Sachin Tendulkar was the only player to score a double century in ODI cricket.

5. 201 Not Out vs. Sri Lanka, Galle 2008

Unlike the Delhi opener’s other innings, this came in a very difficult situation. India’s batting order was falling apart but Sehwag held on as he helped his side reach a respectable. The fact that only two other batsmen managed double-digit scores speaks volumes of the effort he put in.

The 231 ball stand against the likes of Chaminda Vaas, Ajantha Mendis and Muthiah Muralitharan was a treat to watch. He scored 22 boundaries and 4 sixes during his stay in the middle. His efforts were not in vain as India went on to win the game by 170 runs.

Also read : IPL 2020: “Dhai Axar prem ke” – Sehwag after Axar Patels’ three sixes take DC home