Rohit Sharma vs Virender Sehwag: ODI stats comparison and career analysis

Rohit Sharma and Virender Sehwag are the two of the most impactful top-order batters in India's ODI history. Both had an aggressive instinct within them and used to put the bowlers under pressure from the very first ball. While their batting methods were varied and although they also had different batting styles and personalities at the crease, both were eventually hugely successful. The two played through different periods of Indian cricket, but both were key figures, because they had an ability to dominate opposition bowling attacks and are memorable figures in India's large cricket history.

Sehwag came into the one day fold in 1999 when Indian cricket was defined by players like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and Rahul Dravid, all of whom had already established themselves in the ODI format. Sehwag came into a very established ODI grou, but Sehwag did not care and established his identity through the bat and limitless belief. Rohit Sharma on the other hand started his ODI career in 2007 when all of those players were windng their careers down. Rohit was part of transition phase with several other young players vying for places in the national team.

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While both played an attacking style, their approaches were nuanced. Sehwag came to attack from first ball, attacking right from the incorporation of their plans, buzzing through the duration of the powerplay whilst also taking advantage of the fielding restrictions in the first 10 overs. This style made him a terror for bowlers at the commencement of their spell. Rohit preferred to get his eye in and start more elongative, weighing up the condition of the pitch, and how to modulate his gears (speed, once he felt comfortable). Probably the most dangerous batter in ODIs when he was settled was his ability to destroy attacks with precision and timing.

Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma have lead India's aggressive batting evolution in ODIs

Their signature shots were also an extension of their individual strengths. Sehwag's square cut was played with the same cavalier ease, consistently puncturing boundaries. His flick through midwicket was effortlessly dynamic, while comfortably picking up and capitalising on width, and anything loose drifting onto his pads. Rohit Sharma's pull shot against express pace is considered one of the best pull shots in world cricket, whereas as an attacking option, also likes to position himself and use proper footwork when playing the inside-out lofted drive over cover. And has subsequently developed an even sharper skill set as his has grown older. 

Ultimately, both players represented the aggressive batting evolution of India in ODIs, albeit in distinctive ways. Sehwag's unrelenting intent enforced many memorable Indian victories from the very beginning of his innings, and Rohit was equally impressive, with advanced aggression as well as converting starts into match-winning mammoth scores. Both players entertained, but most importantly, they contributed to changing the perception of what an opener can deliver in limited overs cricket, and paved the way for a new generation of bold stroke players to hopefully represent India also.

Stat comparision of Rohit Sharma and Virender Sehwag