JOIN USI did it my way, says the entertainer
Virender Sehwag on Tuesday made a quiet exit from the international cricket, much unlike the unrest he created with his batting prowess.
The destructive opener, who has been out of the international fold since 2013, chose his 37th birthday to announce retirement from all formats of international cricket, including the Indian Premier League.
The Delhi dasher had spoken about his intentions to play in the UAE based Twenty20 league -- Masters Champions League — where it is prerequisite to retire from all forms of cricket.
Sehwag has been his own man; he has played in his own inimitable style, copped criticism for not changing his outlook but carried on. Nobody would have liked to watch a temperate Sehwag — for all he did was to entertain. "I want to thank everyone for all the cricketing advice given to me over the years and apologise for not accepting most of it! I had a reason for not following it: I did it my way!", said Sehwag in his parting shot
"God has been kind and I have done what I wanted to do — on the field and in my life and I had decided sometime back that I will retire on my 37th birthday," Sehwag said in a statement. "So, while I spend the day with my family, I hereby announce my retirement from all forms of international cricket and the Indian Premier League.”
Sehwag, whose raw talent against the new ball made him one of the most feared hitters in international cricket, last played for India in the Test match against Australia in March, 2013.
"Cricket has been my life and continues to be so. Playing for India was a memorable journey and I tried to make it more memorable for my team-mates and for the Indian cricket fans. I believe I was reasonably successful in doing so. For that, I wish to thank all my teammates over the years — some of the greatest players of the game. I would like to thank all my captains, who believed in me and backed me to the hilt. I also thank our greatest partner, the Indian cricket fan for all the love, support and the memories,” he said.
“I have lived my dream and played at the finest of cricket grounds across the globe.”
Sehwag boasts of an enviable strike rate of over 80 in 104 Tests. The highlight of his Test career remains his 23 hundreds, including two triple-centuries, the only Indian batsman to achieve the feat. He played in 19 T20Is and 251 ODIs in which he also has a double hundred. In total he scored over 17000 international runs in all three formats.
BCCI President Shashank Manohar lauded Sehwag’s contribution to cricket. “Over the years he has been a great example for his peers and youngsters alike. He has given cricket lovers across the globe a lot of joy with his unique style of batting. He was one of the most feared batsmen.”
Milestones
*Born on Oct 20, 1978 at Najafgarh, Delhi.
*Scored a century on Test debut against South Africa in 2001.
*Scored maiden ODI century from 69 balls against New Zealand in 2001.
*In 2008, scored the quickest triple-hundred in a Test match, taking 278 deliveries against South Africa in Chennai
*He is one of the four batsmen in the Test history to score two triple centuries, alongside Don Bradman, Brian Lara and Chris Gayle.
*He was a member of India's victorious squads in the 2007 World Twenty20 and the 2011 World Cup.