Virender Sehwag is a flamboyant opener from rural Delhi. Sehwag announced his entry in Test Cricket with a debut century against South Africa in 2001. The dashing opener achieved another unique honour by scoring a triple century against South Africa in Chennai on March 29, 2008 thus joining an illustrious group of cricketers who have scored two triple centuries in Tests. Earlier to this, Sehwag achieved this feat by scoring 309 runs against Pakistan in the first test in Multan on March 29, 2004. In the process, he not only shattered the highest individual score record by Indian cricketer against Pakistan held by Sanjay Manjrekar (218) but also the highest individual score by an Indian against any team notched up by V.V.S. Laxman (281) against Australia in 2001 in Kolkata.
In the second India – Srilanka Test at Galle on July 31, 2008, Sehwag became the 10th Indian player to cross the 5000 run milestone scoring 218. It was Virender Sehwag’s belligerent 125 off just 74 deliveries in the 4th One Day International against Kiwis in Hamilton on March 11, 2009 that helped India win the first ODI series in New Zealand in 33 years. In this match Sehwag scored his century in just 60 balls which is the fastest by any Indian and the 7th fastest overall in the history of One Day International Cricket. This feat bettered former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin’s 62 ball hundred against the same opponents in Baroda in 1988 – 89.
Sehwag also won the Cricinfo Test Batsman of the Year Award 2008 on January 16, 2009. He was presented the CSR gold medal on March 5, 2010 and the prestigious Padma Shri Award on March 31, 2010.