Former Indian cricket skipper Sourav Ganguly has extended heartfelt accolades to the swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag, following his inclusion in the prestigious ICC Hall of Fame. Reflecting on Sehwag’s monumental contribution to the game, especially in the Test match arena, Ganguly expressed, “You changed the dynamics of batting at the top in Test cricket. Your talent was special. You scored runs at such a fast pace, you were just exceptionally good, and you are probably the best opening batsman after Sunil Gavaskar.”
Ganguly, remembered for his astute leadership and keen eye for talent, shared his early recollections of the Delhi dynamo in a letter to Sehwag. He reminisced about the buzz that accompanied Sehwag’s initial forays into first-class cricket. Impressions of a batsman who hit the ball hard and cleared the boundary ropes with ease were already making waves. “That is how I first heard of you. The India selectors kept updating us that you were very good, and you came into the international set-up early on,” said Ganguly.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Sehwag. Ganguly disclosed Sehwag’s initial hesitations about opening in a Test match—a role he had not played before. The pivotal moment came at Lord’s in 2002, when Ganguly persuaded Sehwag to take on the task. Despite initial reservations, Sehwag flourished: “I believe no-one is born to bat in any particular position and that you could do it because of the talent you possessed. You were initially tentative but once you got going for the first time in a Test match at Lord’s in 2002, you got an 80 in no time. From there, your confidence continued to grow.”
As Ganguly delved deeper into Sehwag’s career, he acknowledged Sehwag’s supremacy in the longest format of the game. “You enjoyed playing all the different formats and while you were good at one-day cricket, I think you were even better in Tests,” complimented Ganguly. He reminisced about Sehwag’s legendary innings in Multan, where Sehwag not only scored a triple century but reached both his double and triple hundreds with sixes—an audacious feat he had casually predicted before achieving it.
Ganguly underlined how Sehwag’s aggressive and confident approach at the top of the order made life significantly easier for those who followed. The impact Sehwag had on the game extended beyond his individual performances; it shifted the paradigm for opening batsmen in Test cricket, combining aggression with traditional stroke play.
Throughout his illustrious career, Sehwag cultivated a reputation for decimating bowling attacks with a blend of fearless hitting and precise timing. His approach redefined the role of the Test opener, traditionally a position associated with caution and circumspection. Instead, Sehwag integrated the aggressive philosophy of limited-overs batting into the five-day format, blurring the lines and setting the stage for the modern-day batter who refuses to be bogged down by the length of the game.
Beyond the individual accolades and astounding innings, Sehwag’s legacy is a testament to the evolutionary nature of cricket. His fearless approach and remarkable execution role-modeled a blueprint for success and became a source of inspiration for the next generation of cricketers who grew up idolizing him.
In conclusion, Ganguly’s praise for Sehwag is not just a nod to the numbers and records but an acknowledgment of the influence Sehwag had on the very psyche of Test batting. As fans keep an eye on the ongoing Cricket World Cup 2023, with its barrage of statistics and performances, the acknowledgment of Sehwag’s induction into the Hall of Fame serves as a reminder of the profound impact that individual cricketers can have on the game, reshaping and defining the way cricket is played for years to come.