Virender Sehwag is a former Indian international cricketer, widely regarded as one of the most destructive opening batsmen in the history of the game. Known for his fearless, attacking style and an ability to score quickly without regard for match situation, he represented India in Tests, One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals between 1999 and 2013. He is the first Indian batsman to score a triple century in Test cricket, an achievement he accomplished twice.
| Full name | Virender Sehwag |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 20 October 1978 |
| Place of birth | Najafgarh, Delhi, India |
| Nickname | Viru, Nawab of Najafgarh, Multan ka Sultan |
| Batting style | Right-handed |
| Bowling style | Right-arm off-break |
| Role | Opening batsman |
| ODI debut | 1 April 1999, vs Pakistan at Mohali |
| Test debut | 3 November 2001, vs South Africa at Bloemfontein |
| T20I debut | 1 December 2006, vs South Africa at Johannesburg |
| Domestic team | Delhi |
| IPL teams | Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab |
| Spouse | Aarti Ahlawat (m. 2004) |
Sehwag was born into a Jat family in Najafgarh, on the outskirts of Delhi. His father, Krishan Sehwag, was a grain merchant. He was educated at Arora Vidya School and later at Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi. He began playing cricket from a young age and rose through Delhi's age-group system before breaking into the senior Ranji Trophy side.
Sehwag made his ODI debut against Pakistan in April 1999 but had a quiet start. He returned to the side in 2001 and announced himself with a century against New Zealand in Colombo. His Test debut came later that year in Bloemfontein, where he scored 105 batting at number six against South Africa.
In 2002, on India's tour of England, captain Sourav Ganguly and coach John Wright promoted Sehwag to open the batting in Tests. The move proved transformative. Sehwag scored 84 on his opening debut at Lord's and quickly developed into a prolific Test opener who set the tone for India's batting.
In March 2004, Sehwag became the first Indian to score a Test triple century, making 309 against Pakistan at Multan, an innings that earned him the moniker "Multan ka Sultan". He repeated the feat in March 2008 against South Africa at Chennai, scoring 319 off 304 balls — the fastest triple century in Test history at the time.
In December 2011, Sehwag scored 219 against the West Indies at Indore, which was the highest individual score in ODI cricket at the time, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's 200 not out. He was a key member of the Indian sides that won the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup at home.
Sehwag served as vice-captain of India for several years and led India in four Tests and twelve ODIs as stand-in captain. He also briefly captained the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Sehwag represented Delhi Daredevils from 2008 to 2013 and Kings XI Punjab from 2014 to 2015. He led Kings XI Punjab to the final of the 2014 IPL season as a player and mentor figure.
Sehwag's last international match was a Test against Australia in March 2013. He announced his retirement from international and first-class cricket on 20 October 2015, his 37th birthday.
Sehwag was renowned for his uncomplicated, attacking technique. He played with minimal footwork, relied on exceptional hand-eye coordination, and treated every ball on its merit irrespective of format or context. His strike rates were unusually high for an opener in Test cricket, often exceeding 80 runs per 100 balls. He frequently brought up centuries with sixes and was known for his calm temperament at milestones.
Following retirement, Sehwag has worked as a cricket commentator, television analyst and brand ambassador. He is active on social media, where he is known for his witty posts. He founded the Sehwag International School in Jhajjar, Haryana, a residential cricket-oriented school. He has also served as a mentor with IPL franchises and at the Haryana Pradesh Cricket Association set-up.
Sehwag married Aarti Ahlawat in April 2004 in New Delhi. The couple has two sons. The family is based in Delhi.
Sehwag redefined the role of a Test opener in modern cricket. By transferring a limited-overs scoring approach to the longest format, he changed how teams approached the first session of Test matches, often putting India in commanding positions early. His triple centuries, double century in ODIs, and contributions across formats place him among India's most influential cricketers of the 2000s.