West Indies great Viv Richards and legendary Indian opener Virender Sehwag were both known for their fearless and attacking cricket. A day after Viv Richards praised Virender Sehwag for his outstanding contribution to Test cricket, the former India opener paid tribute to the cricketer.
Both Richards and Sehwag took the match to the bowlers from the first delivery, but the former Indian opener’s impact in Test cricket was uniquely devastating. The 46-year-old turned every session into a spectacle, leaving bowlers from Australia to South Africa to Pakistan speechless.
Even after his retirement in 2014, there is a noticeable gap for the great West Indies left-winger at the top of India’s batting lineup, with only Yashasvi Jaiswal showing glimpses of Sehwag’s fearless approach. Sehwag’s numbers prove his legacy as one of the most destructive openers.
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Virender Sehwag’s fearless style leaves a lasting impact on Viv Richards
In 104 Test matches, Sefag scored 8,586 runs at an impressive strike rate of 82.23, which remains the highest by an Indian batsman in the traditional format of the match. He also became the first Indian to score a triple century against Pakistan in 2004 and repeated the feat against South Africa in 2008. In 2009, he came heartbreakingly close to completing his third triple, scoring 293 goals against Sri Lanka.
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Sefag’s approach was simple but cruel. Look at the ball and hit the ball. He always attacked, whether it was the last over before lunch, before tea or before the stumps. Every session was an opportunity to dominate the bowlers. One of Sehwag’s iconic innings came in the 2003 MCG Test against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
His 195-run blitz showed how he controlled the match from the start, forcing the bowlers to constantly change their plans. Still, they could not control his misery. The former Indian opener’s bold style made him a nightmare for any bowling attack and inspired a generation of aggressive batsmen.
Viv Richards praises Virender Sehwag as the fearless force who brought back Test cricket
Viv Richards saw a reflection of herself in Sefag. He praised the way Sefag had revived the excitement of Test cricket and brought fans back to the stadium even when the match looked one-sided. Sefag continued the tradition of attacking cricket and kept the format alive with his fearless style.
“When I saw Sehwag bat, I saw myself. I thought he was more dangerous than Shahid Afridi or Adam Gilchrist. Test cricket was in decline, but Sehwag revived the format. The kind of excitement he brought to the game is one of the reasons why 15,000 to 20,000 fans still flock to watch a weakened West Indies team today. That is Sehwag’s legacy.”
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Virender Sehwag responds to Viv Richards’ praise
Virender Sehwag felt honored and grateful for Viv Richards’ praise. He acknowledged Richards’ influence on cricket and said he was simply keeping the tradition alive for the next generation. He also stressed that Test cricket will continue to thrive as long as players enjoy attacking and playing without fear.
Sehwag wrote to X, “I’m humbled, @ivivianrichards. You made bowlers fear batsmen. I just kept the tradition alive for the next generation. Test cricket will never die as long as there is joy in attacking.”
I am humbled, Your Excellency. @IvIvIbenrIchberds 🙏
You made the bowlers fear the batsmen. I just kept the tradition alive for the next generation.
As long as there is joy in attacking, Test cricket will never die.— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) ○ctahber 13, 2025