Virender Sehwag’s transformation from a middle-order batsman to a devastating opener is a pivotal moment in cricket history. The idea to elevate Sehwag to the top of the order originated from an unexpected source: Zaheer Khan.
During a conversation with Shoaib Akhtar, Sehwag revealed that Khan had suggested the move to then-captain Sourav Ganguly. The suggestion stemmed from a match in 1999, where Akhtar had dismissed Sehwag at number seven in the batting order.
“What were you doing at number seven?” Akhtar asked Sehwag. “I used to bat in the middle order at that time,” Sehwag replied.
Khan’s suggestion was met with skepticism initially, but Ganguly was willing to experiment. In July 2001, during a tri-series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand, Sehwag was pushed up to open alongside Ganguly due to an injury to Sachin Tendulkar.
The move proved to be a masterstroke. Sehwag’s aggressive style and ability to score quickly at the top of the order transformed India’s batting lineup. He made his Test debut as an opener in 2002 and never looked back.
Sehwag went on to become one of the most successful opening batsmen in cricket history. He played 104 Tests and 251 ODIs, scoring 8586 and 8273 runs respectively. He was a key member of India’s victorious 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup teams.
Sehwag’s impact on cricket was profound. His aggressive approach and ability to dominate bowling attacks inspired a generation of batsmen. He retired in 2015, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most entertaining and destructive openers the game has ever seen.
