Virender Sehwag, the man who revolutionised the role of the opener in Test cricket, has called it quits from the international cricket and Indian Premier League on Tuesday.
The batsman for more than a decade terrorised bowlers all around the world changed the definition of Test cricket with his ODI style batting played his last match in 2013. In a glorious international career spanning over 12 years, Sehwag played 104 Tests scoring 8586 runs at an impressive average of 49.34, hitting 23 centuries and 32 half-centuries.
He is the only triple centurion in Tests for India having scored career-best knock of 319 against Pakistan at Multan, which also is an Indian record. He is also one of those rare batsmen to have scored two triple ton with his next one (309) coming against South Africa.
Here are the five of his best innings in Test cricket:
309, Multan, 2004: At Multan on March 29, 2004 Nawab of Najafgarh became first India to ever score a triple century. He scored a marvelous 309 against arch rivals Pakistan to set up India's first Test win in Pakistan. It was this Test match which gave Sehwag the nick name 'Multan ka Sultan'. He literally destroyed one of the most lethal Pakistan bowling attack single handedly.
319, Chennai, 2008: With Virender Sehwag, it was all in or nothing. And he proved that against South Africa in Chennai on March 28, 2008 as he blasted the fastest Test triple-century, off 278 deliveries. Opposition coach Mickey Arthur termed it the 'best Test innings he has ever seen'. Crushing and grinding bowlers with his majestic batting it still remains the highest Test score by an Indian.
293, Mumbai, 2009: Sehwag who has scored and destroyed every bowler in the world tool the attck to the most successful Test bowler in this one -- Muttiah Muralitharan. Sehwag in this particular Test match had hit a total of 47 boundaries that included 40 fours and seven sixes. During this innings it broke a number of records - most double-centuries by an Indian, second-highest number of 250-plus scores and most runs by and Indian in a day. Victory also took India to No. 1 in the rankings.
151, Adelaide, 2008: Recalled to the Test team for the tour of Australia in 2007-08, Sehwag's innings was unlike him. It was not a usual swashbuckling inning but a knock that helped India save a Test match. It was on the fifth day of the Test match and stalwarts of Indian team Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly & VVS Laxman made just 54 runs in between them and the team was really struggling but he made sure that India drew the match.
201, Sri Lanka, 2008: The highlight of this Test innings was mystery bowler Ajantha Mendis were taken to the cleaners. Sehwag scored 70 runs against Mendis at a strike rate of 90.90. It was Sehwag's innings which gave Team India their only victory of the Series.
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