Virender Sehwag: The explosive trailblazer of test cricket

By Harsh Thakor*

Virender Sehwag’s batting was like a scientist defying biomechanics, pushing domination to uncharted heights. His explosive style, akin to an army’s relentless assault, bewildered physicists with mythical inventiveness. He rewrote the coaching manual, setting benchmarks for scoring speed and 150+ totals, helping India reach cricket’s pinnacle. Sehwag revolutionized Test cricket, shattering scoring norms and batting at the speed of thought—or faster—making mammoth totals seem effortless.

He thrived on boundaries, using minimal footwork but maximum intent, accumulating Test runs faster than anyone. His genius hand-eye coordination and razor-sharp mind turned risks into opportunities. Despite vulnerabilities to swing, his lack of footwork freed his hands for brilliant strokeplay. He hit powerfully square of the off-side, dismantled top spinners, and launched sixes over long-off from defensive balls. Sehwag defied caution, often reaching 283 not out by day two, leaving opponents reeling. While Tendulkar and Laxman stretched manuals, Sehwag wrote his own.

His Test career began with a 69-ball century against New Zealand in 2001. Debuting in the middle order, he scored a flawless hundred at Bloemfontein, later shining as an opener with 84 off 96 balls and a century at Trent Bridge. In 2001 at Galle, he carried his bat for 201 on a wearing pitch, taming Muralitharan. In 2003-04, his 195 at Melbourne stunned Australia. In 2004 at Multan, he scored the quickest triple century ever, a batting novel. His 155 in Chennai against Australia in 2004 was wizardry, as was his 201 off 262 balls against Pakistan in 2005.

In 2006 at Lahore, his 254 off 247 balls included one of the fastest double centuries. After a lean patch, he scored 151 at Adelaide in 2007-08. In 2008, his 319 off 304 balls against South Africa was Test cricket’s most explosive triple century. His 84 in Chennai in 2008-09 sparked a 387-run chase, and in 2010, his 293 against Sri Lanka redefined aggression. In 2011, he scored 219 off 149 balls in an ODI against West Indies, a record later broken.

Sehwag ended with 8,503 Test runs at 49.43, with 23 centuries, 14 exceeding 150. He scored five of the ten fastest double centuries. In victories, he averaged 54.65; in draws, 58.59. At home, he scored 4,656 runs at 54.13; away, 3,930 at 44.65. Against Australia, he averaged 46.86. His Test strike rate of 83.10 as an opener was miraculous. In ODIs, he scored 8,273 runs at 35.05. He redefined opening, but struggled on bouncy tracks, averaging 25 in England and South Africa.

His flamboyance kept him from 10,000 runs or 30+ centuries like Dravid, Lara, or Tendulkar. Gower ranked him 46th, Jenkins 94th, Armstrong 66th. I rank him sixth among openers, behind Hobbs, Gavaskar, Hutton, Trumper, and Richards, and a contender for an all-time XI. Gavaskar edges ahead for facing tougher attacks. Sehwag’s genius rivals Bradman, Richards, and Lara, but he sits just below them, still among cricket’s all-time great batsmen.

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*Freelance journalist

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