I remember Sehwag as the man who flew home from West Indies for a local final and made a Ranji Trophy captain deploy nine men on the boundary

On Virender Sehwag’s birthday, I look back at my years covering him, recalling his fearless batting, his 195 in Melbourne, his triple century at Multan and the anecdotes that capture cricket’s original maverick.

Updated : Oct 20, 2026 15:57 IST , New Delhi - 5 MINS READ

Away from the crease, the candour, the infectious love for the game and the unpretentious warmth made Viru every bit as memorable. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement

Virender Sehwag, fondly known as Viru to us, is the most remarkable maverick I have come across in my cricketing journey as a reporter.

Who sings at the crease, with the bat waiting to strike and the pressure unbearable for the non-striker and the dressing room? Viru does. He was known to hum film hits in the middle, much to the delight of his teammates. Of course, he had an incredible mass following of fans who prayed he would never alter his style of taking on the opposition. Thankfully, Viru did not, because that would have meant he would no longer be himself.

I have seen him grow with every season. His dominance swelled, and his confidence reached unimaginable levels. The bigger the challenge, the better his response.

In Delhi, his rise was remarkable, for he was known to decimate bowlers. “There is a curly haired boy from Najafgarh. Watch out for him,” I was informed by Ajit Chaudhary, a coach on the junior circuit. He was known for playing astounding shots, mostly out of the book. Few batted like him in those days. There were many starts with a first-ball six or four from this awesomely gifted batsman, who was rejected by the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) when he first turned up for trials.

Viru always enjoyed his cricket, regardless of his performance in a match. Having spent a lot of time with him on tours and at home matches, I can’t remember him ever brooding. Never.

Ajit Chaudhary (R) was among those who spotted the promise in a curly-haired boy from Najafgarh long before Virender Sehwag became a household name. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement

There was no trace of remorse in Melbourne on the 2003-04 tour when he got out for 195 while trying to hit a six off Simon Katich. “What was the need, Viru, to take the chance?” I asked him at the end of the day’s play. He was candid as ever, “The ball had a six written all over it. Only, I did not connect it well.” There was no remorse over having missed a double century. Three months later, in Multan, he became the first Indian to hit a triple century in a Test, reaching the milestone with a six off the wily Saqlain Mushtaq. That was the Viru I had known.

Viru’s strong point was his fearless approach. He did not listen to anyone because he believed in his abilities. Few would remember his blistering assault on the Punjab attack in a 1999 Ranji Trophy match in Ludhiana. Hear it from Vikram Rathour, who was leading Punjab. “It was a storm. He batted late because he was running a fever, and he just smashed Harbhajan [Singh] and Sarandeep [Singh] out of shape. Mind you, the ball was turning so much, but Viru was just incredible, hitting with the turn, against the turn, beating men on the fence. He would challenge me to bring in a fielder and would hit the ball over him. At one point I had nine men on the boundary.” Viru hit nine sixes in his 187.

Haryana left-arm spinner Pradeep Jain, a parsimonious bowler, shared an anecdote from 2002. “In a Ranji Trophy match in 1998 at Rohtak, the pitch was a dust bowl. He played all the shots against me. We were in disbelief. No mishits, no edges. The ball just flew from the middle of the bat. Having even 20 fielders wouldn’t have helped. On a minefield, I tried all my tricks, but Viru was a man possessed that day,” remembered Jain.

Another anecdote that showed Viru’s commitment to the team came again in 2002. Jain loved recalling it. “He was in the West Indies and got to know we (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) were playing a local final at Palam ground. Viru called us to say he would love to play the final. We thought he was pulling our leg. But this man did something improbable. Viru landed at night in Mumbai and took a flight that brought him to Delhi at 6 a.m. or something. He was waiting for us at the Palam ground.” Needless to say, Viru produced a hurricane century that won ONGC the match.

I have found Viru a great host, having enjoyed some great food at his Najafgarh home, the flat near Green Park and his current farmhouse in Chattarpur. Unmatched humility marks his personality. He can be brazen at times, but he does not hide his feelings. He is what he appears to be. His inner circle remains the same, comprising friends from his early days.

Viru is dedicated to giving us a clone in son Aaryavir, who is a reflection of his father at the crease, aggressive and unafraid of failure. Viru is one of a kind. He was a batsman who revolutionised an opener’s approach. Only the colour of his clothing gave us an idea of the contest, a Test or a One-Day International. With Viru at the crease, it was unadulterated entertainment, which even his opponents have confessed to enjoying.

Here’s wishing Viru many happy returns of the day.

Published on Oct 20, 2026

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