Virender Sehwag

Right Handed Batsman

Jersey Number
44
International Debut
1999
Matches Played
470+
Career Runs
19900+

Full Name: Virender Sehwag

Nickname: Viru

Date of Birth: October 20, 1978

Place of Birth: Delhi

Age: 47 Years

Nationality: Indian

Role: Batsman

Batting Style: Right-Handed Bat

Bowling Style: Right-arm offbreak

Current Team(s): India, Punjab Kings, Delhi

Virender Sehwag was born on October 20, 1978, in Najafgarh, Delhi. He was one of the most explosive and fearless opening batsmen from India. He was raised in a middle-class Jat family. He began his cricketing journey at an early age and was inspired by his idol, Sachin Tendulkar. He trained at the Sonnet Cricket Club under coach A.N. Sharma. Sehwag made his ODI debut in 1999 and his test debut in 2001. Sehwag quickly rose to prominence with his aggressive playing style and the ability to dominate world-class bowlers. He was the first Indian batsman to score a triple century in Test cricket. He also played key roles in India’s World Cup campaigns in 2007 and 2011.

International Debut
Test: South Africa vs India at Bloemfontein – November 03 – 06, 2001
ODI: India vs Pakistan at Mohali – April 01, 1999
T20I: South Africa vs India at Johannesburg – December 01, 2006
IPL Debut
DC vs RR at Delhi – April 19, 2008
Domestic Teams:
Delhi
Format Matches Runs Average 100s/50s Wickets Best Bowling Catches
Test 104 8586 49.34 23/32 40 5/104 91
ODI 251 8273 35.05 15/38 96 4/6 93
T20I 19 394 21.88 0/2 0 2
IPL 104 2728 27.55 2/16 6 2/18 34
Key Batting Records & Milestones
  • Virender Sehwag has more than 17,000 runs in international cricket across formats.
  • Sehwag has scored 38 international centuries (23 in Tests and 15 in ODIs).
  • He was the first Indian to score a triple century in Test cricket (309 vs Pakistan, Multan, 2004).
  • He has scored the third-most runs in a single day in Test cricket (284).
  • He has the most triple hundreds in a Test career (2).
  • He holds the record for the fastest 300 in Test cricket (278 balls vs South Africa, 2008).
  • He is the third-fastest player to reach 7,000 runs in Test cricket.
  • He has scored a century and a duck in the same match.
  • He is one of the few cricketers to score centuries in both Test and ODI debut innings as an opener.
ICC Awards
  • He was named ICC Player of the Year for 2010.
  • He was named in the ICC Test Team of the Year in 2008 and 2010.
  • He was featured in the ICC ODI Team of the Year in 2009.
Major Tournament Wins
  • He won the ICC T20 World Cup 2007 as a player.
  • He won the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 as a player.
  • He was part of India’s ICC Champions Trophy finalist team in 2002.
  • He also played key roles in India’s historic series wins against Australia in 2001 and 2008, and Pakistan in 2004.
Captaincy Records
  • Sehwag has also captained the India team in the absence of senior players.
  • He led India to victory in his only Test match as captain in 2009 against Bangladesh.
  • He also served as vice-captain of Team India from 2007 to 2012 across formats.
  • He also captained IPL teams, including Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab.
Off-Field Honors
  • He was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2002 for excellence in cricket.
  • He was given the Padma Shri award by the Government of India in 2010.
  • He was named Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World in 2008 and 2009.
  • He also runs Sehwag International School in Haryana.

Throughout his career, Virender Sehwag was known for his fearless and attacking batting style. He redefined the role of a batsman in Test and ODI cricket. His batting technique was not that complicated; he relied on timing and instinct rather than footwork with natural hand-eye coordination. He loved to play the square cuts and the slash over point. His signature shot also included the effortless straight drive that often cleared the ropes. The mental approach of Sehwag was very simple – he treated every ball on merit and showed no fear. His self-belief, aggressive mindset, and the ability to maintain composure under pressure made him one of the greatest batsmen India ever produced.

Virender Sehwag was born on October 20, 1978, in Najafgarh, Delhi, to a Jat family. His father was a grain merchant, and his mother, a homemaker. Sehwag developed a love for cricket at a very early age and often played in the narrow lanes of Najafgarh along with his buddies. He completed his schooling at Arora Vidya School, Delhi, and attended Jamia Millia Islamia University to get a degree. Sehwag married Arti Sehwag in 2004, and they have two sons. Apart from cricket, Sehwag enjoys watching Bollywood movies, singing, and promoting education and sports through his ventures.

Brand Endorsements
  • Throughout his career, Sehwag has endorsed several brands such as Hero Honda, Boost, Samsung, Reebok, Adidas, Karbonn Mobiles, and ICICI Bank.
  • Even after his retirement, he continues to be associated with multiple brands including MyTeam11, Apollo Tyres, PolicyBazaar, and CricGuru.
  • His approachable personality and sharp wit make him a sought-after brand ambassador and cricket analyst in various sports campaigns.
Charity Work
  • He also has his own Sehwag Foundation, which supports underprivileged children through education, healthcare, and sports initiatives.
  • He also runs the Sehwag International School in Jhajjar, Haryana, offering scholarships and facilities to talented young athletes.
  • He also regularly participates in charity cricket matches and awareness campaigns related to children’s welfare.
Social Media Influence
  • He is one of the most influential cricket personalities on the internet. He is celebrated for his humorous, witty, and motivational posts and comments.
  • He accumulated millions of followers across various platforms, including X(formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook. He often shares commentary, cricket highlights, and patriotic messages on these platforms.
  • He is known for his sharp one-liners and light-hearted humor.
No Data

Favourite Cricketer: Sachin Tendulkar

Favourite Stadium: HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala

Pre-game Rituals: He never wore a helmet with the team logo sticker.

Most Memorable Innings: 309 vs Pakistan (Test, Multan, 2004)

Instagram: @virendersehwag

Twitter (X): @virendersehwag

Facebook: @VirenderSehwag