Amid retirement flurry, Viru turns 37; wishes pour in for flamboyant India opener
PROBABLY THE MOST fearless batsman to have ever played for India and the man who changed the face of opening batting regardless of the format, Virender Sehwag turns 37 on Tuesday, amid news of his international retirement.
An explosive batsman who followed the mantra of 'see ball, hit ball', Sehwag made his international debut for India way back in 1999 in an ODI against Pakistan. He has scored over 8,000 runs in both, Tests and ODIs and averages close to 50 in Tests with 23 centuries to his name.
The 'Nawab of Najafgarh' remains the only Indian to have scored a triple century in Tests, and also became the second Indian to score a double hundred in ODIs The Nawab of Najafgarh last played for India in 2013, in a Test against Australia at Hyderabad. Since then, there has been no sign of his comeback.
Sehwag recently switched from his home side Delhi to play for Haryana in the domestic circuit. On Monday, Sehwag was in Dubai for the gala dinner of the Masters Champions League 2020, a tournament he will be part of in January next year. In a casual conversation at the event, Sehwag 'hinted' that he will retire from international cricket soon, since the MCL2020 deems retirement as a pre-requisite for participation.
However, this was picked up by media houses in India as 'announcement of retirement' and the news spread in no time. Sehwag later clarified that he will officially announce his retirement once he's back in India. With his international career as good as over, Sehwag will draw curtains on an illustrious 14-year long career and will also quit playing in the popular Indian Premier League.
Wishes have started pouring in:
Happy Birthday, Virender Sehwag - the man whose batting is synonymous to joy. pic.twitter.com/QvAY3GDxii
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 20, 2015
Former South African batsman Graeme Smith had a special message for him.
From one opening batsman to another. @GraemeSmith49 talks about @virendersehwag. #HappyBirthdaySehwag https://t.co/A4AaPy9ctB
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 20, 2015
Happy Birthday to one of the game's great entertainers, @virendersehwag! https://t.co/mC3w9F6v4V pic.twitter.com/0QQkFHgpaX
— ICC (@ICC) October 20, 2015
