Virender Sehwag: India's Destroyer — 8,586 Test Runs, Two Triples (309 & 319), Most Sixes
Virender Sehwag is an Indian cricketer born on 20 October 1978 in Najafgarh, Delhi. He was the most destructive opening batsman of the 2000s — a right-handed opener who played like a middle-order strokemaker, hitting through the line from ball one against all bowling types. He scored 8,586 Test runs at 49.34 in 104 Tests with 23 centuries, including two triple centuries: 309 vs Pakistan in Multan in April 2004 (the first Test triple century by an Indian) and 319 vs Sri Lanka in Chennai in December 2008. His 319 was the highest Test score by any Indian batsman. He also holds the record for the highest score by any batsman in a Test innings in India (319). He was ICC Test Player of the Year in 2010. His strike rate of 82.23 remains the highest career strike rate of any batsman who has scored 5,000+ Test runs.
Virender Sehwag was born on 20 October 1978 in Najafgarh, Delhi. He made his Test debut against South Africa at Bloemfontein in November 2001, scoring 105. From the outset, he was unlike any opening batsman of his era: he played with the aggression and freedom of a lower-middle-order hitter from ball one, attacking all bowling types without a conventional defensive phase. He was the first opener in Test history to consistently score at a strike rate exceeding 80.
309 in Multan and 319 in Chennai
In April 2004 against Pakistan in Multan, Sehwag scored 309 — the first Test triple century by an Indian. He came within 1 run of Brian Lara's then world record of 375. India declared at 675 for 5. Four years later, in December 2008 against Sri Lanka in Chennai, he went one better: 319 — the highest Test score by any Indian batsman and the highest by any batsman in a Test innings in India. He scored his 300 before the Sri Lankans could end the session. He was named ICC Test Player of the Year in 2010. His career strike rate of 82.23 in Tests is the highest of any batsman who has scored 5,000+ Test runs in the format's history.
Frequently asked questions
How many triple centuries has Virender Sehwag scored in Tests, and what are their details?
Virender Sehwag scored two Test triple centuries — more than any other Indian batsman. The first was 309 against Pakistan at the Multan Cricket Stadium in April 2004: the first triple century by any Indian in Test history (India 675/5 declared). The second was 319 against Sri Lanka at Chepauk in Chennai in December 2008: the highest Test score by any Indian, and the highest Test score made in India. His career Test strike rate of 82.23 is the highest of any batsman who has scored 5,000+ Test runs. He was ICC Test Player of the Year in 2010.