New Delhi:
Indian veteran batsman Virender Sehwag has hinted retirement from International Cricket. Sehwag, a firebrand batsman, served as opener for team India for a very long time. A very few people are aware of the fact that Sehwag was inducted in the team as a bowler but later he turned into a full-fledged batsman.
An aggressive right-handed opening batsman and a part-time right-arm off-spin bowler, he played his first One Day International in 1999 and joined the Indian Test team in 2001.
The batting veteran is the multiple record holder when it comes to Tests records, he scored a triple century-319 against South Africa at at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai), which was also the fastest triple century in the history of international cricket crossing 300 off only 278 balls. Also, the fastest 250 by any batsman which is scored 207 balls against Sri Lanka on 3 December 2009 at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
Sehwag’s decision comes only two days after one of his contemporaries Zaheer Khan decided to call time on his career.
A day before his 37th birthday, Sehwag was today unveiled at the launch ceremony of the veterans 2020 league in Dubai.
When Sehwag, who was present alongside Brian Lara, Graeme Smith and Azhar Mahmood at the launch, was asked how he could play as MCL is a retired cricketers’ league, Sehwag said “If I am not retired I will not play. I will go back to India and announce my retirement.”
MCL is supposed to be played in February next year, which means that Sehwag will complete his Ranji Trophy commitments with Haryana before joining the veterans’ league.
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.
(With PTI Inputs)
