Before Bazball existed, there was Virender Sehwag
A birthday tribute to Virender Sehwag at 48: India's first Test triple century, the fastest Test triple ever, the first captain to score an ODI double hundred, and a strike rate no 8,000-run Test batter has matched.
Key points
- 309: India's first Test triple century, brought up with a six.
- 319 off 278 balls: the fastest Test triple century ever.
- Hit the first ball of an innings for four five times at one World Cup.
- Strike rate of 82 in Tests and 104 in ODIs; the only Indian with two Test triple centuries.
Read the transcript
Every bowler's worst nightmare turns 48 today. Happy birthday, Virender Sehwag. No textbook. No fear.
See ball, hit ball. 309: India's first ever Test triple century, brought up with a six. 319 off just 278 balls: the fastest Test triple century ever. The first captain ever to score a one-day double hundred.
Then, at the World Cup, 175. In that tournament, he hit the very first ball for four five times: Bangladesh, England, Ireland, Netherlands, South Africa. Same man, same carnage. Sachin at one end, chaos at the other.
Two World Cups. On paper, a Test average of 49, 35 in one-dayers. Looks human. Now ask the bowlers.
Strike rate 82 in Tests, 104 in one-dayers. Some numbers belong to him alone. The only Indian with two Test triple centuries. 11 Test hundreds in a row, and every one passed 150.
And nobody with 8,000 Test runs has scored them faster. Stats count runs, not fear. Happy birthday, Viru. Thank you for every fearless first over.
Tell us your favourite Sehwag knock.
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