Celebrating Virender Sehwag: Seven Magnificent Knocks From the Nawab of Najafgarh

Virender Sehwag! A name that scared oppositions the world over. His policy of "See ball, hit ball" symbolised his mantra towards life and cricket: Simple, uncomplicated, deadly. Sehwag's brutality at the top and his clinical decimation of bowling attacks was a sight to behold. If people in the 80s had Sir Vivian Richards as their ultimate entertainer-par-excellence, Sehwag played that role admirably during India's golden period under Sourav Ganguly.(Sehwag Announces Retirement)

The stats accumulated by Sehwag are mind-numbing. In 104 Tests, he scored 8586 runs at an average of 49.34 and a strike rate of 82.23. The pace at which he scored runs at the top of the order in Test matches changed the fortunes of Indian cricket.

In addition to the strike-rate, Sehwag is only the third player in the history of cricket to score two triple-centuries. His destruction was across all formats. In 251 ODIs, he blasted 8273 runs at a staggering strike-rate of 104.33.('I Have Done What I Had to do')

In addition to those awesome numbers, Sehwag achieved greatness in 2011 when he joined his idol Sachin Tendulkar as only the second player to score a double-century in ODIs. On his day, Sehwag was the ultimate treat for a cricket fan.(Dhoni Hails Sehwag's Batting)

Sehwag, whose batting was based on quick reflexes, timed his exit from international cricket and IPL to perfection. Tuesday was his 37th birthday. Here is a look back at seven audacious knocks Sehwag played in his 12-year-plus international career.

1- One-day international: 100 (70) against New Zealand, Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo 2001

Sehwag had a rocky start to his limited overs career. Comparisons with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar had already put him under pressure. In 12 matches, he had managed just one fifty. In the absence of Tendulkar, Sehwag was promoted to open the batting and the world saw a glimpse of what he could do. Against New Zealand, Sehwag gave the Kiwi bowlers a hiding. Pacer Daryl Tuffey bore Sehwag's wrath as the batsman smashed 22 runs off him. He continued the carnage and he reached his century off just 69 balls. New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming admitted that one guy took the game away from them. It would not be the only time.

Virender Sehwag celebrates his double hundred vs West Indies.

© AP

2- One-day international: 219 (149) against West Indies, Indore, 2011

By this period, Sehwag was the undisputed king of aggression at the top. In 2010, the cricketing landscape witnessed a massive change when Tendulkar became the first cricketer on the planet to score a double century in ODIs. When Tendulkar made 200 off 147 balls against South Africa in Gwalior in 2010, the benchmark had been raised. Sehwag, who always had the potential to score a double in ODIs, was soon to match his idol. The West Indies were ripe for the picking and Sehwag dazzled Indore in spectacular fashion. Viru tore the Windies bowling apart and raced to a century off 69 balls. The aggression did not stop and in the 44th over, Sehwag became the second cricketer to score a double century when he cut Andre Russell to deep point. He looked set to go past even 250 but he was dismissed for 219, which became the highest individual score for close to five years, until Rohit Sharma broke the record in 2014 against Sri Lanka.(Sachin Says he Loved Sehwag's 'Instinctive Approach')

Virender Sehwag became India's first triple-century scorer in Tests against Pakistan in Multan in 2004. He scored a 375-ball 309.

© AFP

3- Test match: 309 against Pakistan, Multan 2004

For Indian fans, this knock was special on many counts. It symbolised Sehwag's destruction, broke many Indian records along the way and it also came against their bete-noire, Pakistan. Sehwag's decimation of a hapless Pakistan side on that hot March day in 2004 will surely be considered as the knock of the decade.(The Sultan of Multan)

Prior to this match, no Indian had ever scored a triple century in Tests. VVS Laxman had scored 281 in that amazing Eden turnaround Test against Australia in 2001 but no other Indian had come close. Sehwag changed all that in the space of three days as he smashed the Pakistan bowling apart. He reached his century with an upper-cut six off Shoaib Akhtar. He became circumspect when he neared 200 but once he went past that landmark, he opened up. History was created when he launched offspinner Saqlain Mushtaq over wide long-on to become the first Indian batsman to reach the 300-club in cricket.

4- Test match: 293 against Sri Lanka, Brabourne Stadium 2009

Sehwag took his aggression to an all-new level in the Test against Sri Lanka. His relentless assault thrilled the Cricket Club of India and the Sri Lankans were literally blown away at Brabourne Stadium. Starting off slowly, Sehwag effortlessly changed gears and he maintained top momentum for most of his knock. He reached his century off 101 balls and he employed a wide range of strokes. Slog sweeps, cuts, sweeps, pulls, crunching cover drives, all flowed through the willow of Sehwag. He got to his sixth double hundred in grand fashion by slamming four boundaries in one Nuwan Kulasekara over. He was almost on the verge of creating history when he was seven runs away from a third triple century but he fell to Muttiah Muralitharan. His 293 came off just 254 balls and it included 40 fours and seven sixes.

5- Test match: 201* against Sri Lanka, Galle 2008

It was the series where the terror spin-duo of Ajantha Mendis and Muralitharan were creating havoc. None of the Indian batsmen found an answer to the duo, barring Sehwag. He used his feet magnificently and countered the spinning duo brilliantly to register an unbeaten 201 out of a total of 329. Considering Gautam Gambhir's 56 was the second best score, Sehwag's contribution was immense. He followed it up with a fifty in the second innings and India won the match by 170 runs.

6- Test match: 195 against Australia, Melbourne 2003

Scoring runs in Australia is considered the greatest achievement for an overseas batsman. The conditions and the quality of the opposition are a daunting challenge. Add to the intimidating atmosphere that envelops a Boxing day Test in Melbourne. Sehwag responded brilliantly and he put the Australians to the sword. It was not the vintage, bludgeoning Sehwag on show at the MCG. He managed only 25 runs in his first 60 balls but the introduction of the spinners changed the course. Sehwag went after leggie Stuart MacGill and slowly, India were making great progress. His acceleration was wonderful and he got to his first century against Australia when he drilled Brad Williams through cover.

From that point on, he was unstoppable. He motored to 195 but he was out in a tragic way. Part-time legspinner Simon Katich bowled a low full toss and in the quest to clear the boundary, Sehwag holed out to deep midwicket. His dismissal triggered a collapse and India lost the MCG Test after achieving a sensational win in Adelaide. However, people present at the 'G' will never forget Sehwag's brilliance

7- Test match: 155 against Australia, Chennai 2004

Australia were going for the kill in the series in India. Having won the first Test in Bangalore, Australia had come to Chennai 1-0 up and looking to inflict more pain on India. However, the tables were turned spectacularly, first by Anil Kumble's haul of 7/48 and then by Sehwag. Standing up to Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz, Sehwag was in total control as he put India in front. He carted the Australian bowlers to all parts of the ground to finish on 155. Chasing 229, Sehwag left a statement of intent on the fourth day when he blasted McGrath down the ground to end the day on 19/0, chasing 229. However, a potentially gripping final day was washed out by rain, but the match had belonged to Sehwag.