West Indian great Viv Richards and legendary Indian opener Virender Sehwag were both known for their fearless and attacking cricket. Just a day after Viv Richards praised Virender Sehwag for his incredible contributions to Test cricket, the former India opener showed his respect for the cricketer.
Both Richards and Sehwag took the game to the bowlers from the very first delivery, but the former Indian opener’s impact in Test cricket was uniquely devastating. The 46-year-old made every session a spectacle, leaving bowlers from Australia to South Africa and Pakistan speechless.
Even today, after his retirement in 2014, the void left by the West Indian great at the top of the Indian batting order is palpable, 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, Sehwag scored 8,586 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 82.23, still the highest among all Indian batters in the traditional format of the game. He had also scored India’s first-ever triple century against Pakistan in 2004 and repeated the feat against South Africa in 2008. In 2009, he came heartbreakingly close to a third triple, finishing 293 against Sri Lanka.
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Sehwag’s approach was simple but brutal: see the ball, hit the ball. He attacked at all times, whether it was the last time before lunch, tea or the stumps; every session was an opportunity to dominate the bowlers. One of Sehwag’s iconic innings came in the 2003 MCG Test during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.
His 195-run blitz showed how he could take control of a match from the very beginning, forcing bowlers to constantly change their plans; yet they failed to control its devastation. The former Indian opener’s bold style made him a nightmare for any bowling attack and inspired a generation of aggressive batsmen.
Viv Richards hails Virender Sehwag as a fearless force who has revived Test cricket
Viv Richards saw a reflection of himself in Sehwag. He admired how Sehwag revived the excitement in Test cricket and brought fans back to the stadiums even when the matches seemed one-sided. Sehwag continued the tradition of attacking cricket and kept the format alive with his fearless style.
He said, “When I saw Sehwag bat, I saw a reflection of myself. I thought he was even more dangerous than Shahid Afridi and Adam Gilchrist. Test cricket was fading, 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 turn up even today to watch a weakened West Indies team. That’s the legacy of Sehwag. “
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Virender Sehwag responds to Viv Richards’ admiration
Virender Sehwag felt honored by Viv Richards’ praise and responded with gratitude. He acknowledged Richards’ impact on cricket and said he was simply keeping the tradition alive for the next generation. He also emphasized that Test cricket will continue to flourish as long as players enjoy attacking and playing fearlessly.
Sehwag wrote
Humiliated, sir @ivivianrichards 🙏
You made bowlers fear batsmen – I was just keeping the tradition alive for the next generation.
Test cricket will never die as long as there is fun in attacking it!— Virrender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 13, 2025
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