Virender Sehwag turns 45: celebrating the Sultan of Multan's legacy

NEW DELHI: Virender Sehwag, the former Indian cricketer, celebrated his 45th birthday on Friday. Let's take a moment to reflect on his remarkable career and impressive records.
Sehwag, known for his explosive batting style, made a lasting impact on the cricketing world. Over his illustrious career, he accumulated 8,586 runs from 104 Test matches at an impressive average of 49.34.He was equally prolific in One Day Internationals (ODIs), amassing 8,273 runs from 251 matches. Sehwag also had a brief stint in T20Is, featuring in 19 matches and contributing 394 runs to India's cause.
What set Sehwag apart was his fearless approach to batting, which made him one of the most feared opening batsmen in the game. He had a unique ability to attack bowlers relentlessly, and his audacious strokeplay often left opponents bewildered. His minimal footwork combined with tremendous hand-eye coordination allowed him to play shots that many considered impossible.
One of Sehwag's standout achievements was his ability to score runs quickly, making him one of the fastest run-scorers in Test cricket history. His unwavering self-belief in taking on bowlers, even when playing numerous shots, was his strength.
Throughout his career, Sehwag contributed over 16,000 runs for India across all formats, firmly establishing himself as one of the country's cricketing legends.
Sehwag made his ODI debut in 1999 against Pakistan and retired from the format in 2013 at the Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata. His Test career began in 2001 against South Africa in Bloemfontein. In his debut Test, he scored 105 runs, despite India losing the match.
Sehwag's legacy is marked by numerous records and achievements. He holds the distinction of being the third-highest run-scorer in a single day of a Test match, with a total of 284 runs. He is the only player in Test cricket history to score two triple-hundreds and was the third-fastest to reach 7,000 runs in the same format. In addition, Sehwag holds the unique record of taking four catches as a substitute in a Test match. As a captain, he scored the highest number of runs (219) in a single innings.
Virender Sehwag's electrifying style of play made him a cricketing icon, and his impact on the sport remains unforgettable.
(With ANI inputs)