Former Indian player Virender Sehwag recently revealed that he had contemplated retiring from ODI cricket back in 2007-08. The batting legend recalled feeling disheartened after being left out of the Indian squad during a tri-nation series in Australia and Sri Lanka.

Sehwag revealed that getting dropped from the team led him to rethink continuing in ODI cricket. At that point, he felt disappointed and unsure whether he could continue contributing effectively to the team. The decision to step away from ODIs crossed his mind as he reflected on his career trajectory.

Despite the setback, Sehwag eventually chose to continue playing, going on to achieve tremendous success in ODIs for India. The aggressive opener’s ability to dominate bowlers and deliver match-winning performances cemented his legacy as one of India’s most feared limited-overs batsmen. His reflection highlights the challenges even top players face during their careers.

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Virender Sehwag Talked About His Contemplated Retirement:

Virender Sehwag shared that he discussed the idea of retiring from ODI cricket with Sachin Tendulkar. The legendary batsman advised him to take his time and avoid making a hasty decision driven by emotions.

Sehwag revealed. “ In the 2007-08 series against Australia, I played the first three matches and then MS Dhoni dropped me from the side. I wasn't picked for a while after that. Then I felt that if I can't be a part of the playing XI, then there was no point in my playing ODI cricket.”

Following Tendulkar’s guidance, Sehwag chose to continue in the 50-over format. This decision proved fruitful, as he went on to be part of India’s victorious squad in the 2011 World Cup held in the subcontinent. The 46-year-old shared these insights during a discussion with sports commentator Padamjeet Sehrawat on his YouTube channel, reflecting on the pivotal moment in his career.

He further said, “ Then I went to Tendulkar and said, 'I am thinking of retiring from ODIs'. He said, 'No, I went through a similar phase in 1999-2000, where I felt I should leave cricket. But that phase came and went. So, you are going through a trough, but it will pass. Don't make any decision when you are emotional. Give yourself some time and 1-2 series, and then take a call.' When that series ended, I played in the next series and made a lot of runs. I played the 2011 World Cup and we won the World Cup as well.”

Sehwag featured in five games during the tri-nation series in Australia but struggled with the bat, scoring just 81 runs. Following his underwhelming performance, Robin Uthappa was selected to open alongside Sachin Tendulkar instead, replacing Sehwag at the top of the order.

Virender Sehwag Talked About His Son:

Aryaveer Sehwag secured selection for Delhi’s Under-16 squad to compete in the Vijay Merchant Trophy in December 2023. Speaking on his son’s cricketing journey, Sehwag emphasized that he advised Aryaveer not to feel burdened by his famous surname and to focus on enjoying the game and developing his own skills without the pressure of expectations tied to being Virender Sehwag’s son.

He said, “ Aryaveer will surely have the pressure on him, but I have been teaching him from when he was young that your father's name would be told to you all the time. That you are Virender Sehwag's son, that you play like he did, that you don't play like he did. That pressure will always be on you, but you should not take that pressure.”

He added, “ Pressure is something that you give, not take. I have told him he can play the way he wants if he is interested and if he wants to become a cricketer. Things are going well for now. Hope he goes on to play either for India or the Ranji Trophy. He's working hard. He's only 15 and he'll learn a lot in future.”

In July 2025, Aryaveer Sehwag was bought by South Delhi Superstarz for ₹1 lakh at the Delhi Premier League auction. The young batter’s selection highlights his growing reputation in domestic cricket, giving him a platform to showcase his talent and continue building his career in competitive T20 cricket. This opportunity allows Aryaveer to gain valuable experience while making a mark in the league.

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

Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar has recently mentioned that Yashasvi Jaiswal is as good as Virender Sehwag and that both of them have changed the energy of the Indian dressing room in Test cricket. While talking with ESPNcricinfo, Bangar recounted how Sehwag’s aggressive starts would energize the team and said that with Jaiswal’s attacking approach, he gets a similar flame.

Jaiswal played a key role in India’s second innings on the third day of the last Test against England at The Oval, where he made 118 off 164 balls with 14 fours and two sixes. His knock helped India post a total of 396 in just 88 overs and set the tone for the rest of the match. The left-handed batsman had now scored two centuries in the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, giving himself a solid base at the top.

Bangar said, "I remember when Virender Sehwag used to give those starts; things looked different in the dressing room. The entire energy of the dressing room changed. It’s not only the impact that he has for himself, but also makes the job easier for the batsmen to follow. That’s the value of the contribution that he gives at the start when he bats aggressively."

Jaiswal's maturity and record-breaking knock earn praise

The former coach also applauded Jaiswal’s maturity during his partnership with nightwatchman Akash Deep, who scored a surprising 66. Bangar acknowledged how Jaiswal showed restraint and played with control to guide the lower-order batter.

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"When he bats in a slightly controlled manner, you could also see that he can bring the best out of a lower-order batter, which he did with Akash Deep," he added. Jaiswal’s ton at The Oval was also notable historically, as it stands as India’s 12th individual century in the series—equaling the all-time record for the most hundreds by a team in a Test series. The only other teams to achieve this were Australia (1955), Pakistan (1982–83), and South Africa (2003–04).

Former India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has praised opener Yashasvi Jaiswal during the ongoing fifth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at the Kennington Oval in London.

On Saturday, August 2, the 61-year-old shared a video on his YouTube channel, @NavjotSidhuOfficial, where he praised Jaiswal’s batting and said that the young opener is starting to have an impact similar to former great Virender Sehwag.

In the final Test at the Oval, both India and England had a disappointing end to their innings. The Indian batting collapsed on Day 1 and could score only 224 runs in the first innings, losing the last four wickets quickly. England’s openers gave a strong start, but their team was bowled out for 247. In the second innings, the Indian batters again struggled, but Yashasvi Jaiswal played aggressively and kept hitting boundaries regularly.

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Sidhu Compares Jaiswal’s Impact to Virender Sehwag

The 61-year-old shared a video on his YouTube channel, mentioning Yashasvi Jaiswal, where he praised the youngster’s brilliant strokeplay and called him an opener with shades of batting great Virender Sehwag’s intent.

“The way he (Jaiswal) played those cuts, the cover drive, and especially that stroke between mid-on and midwicket shows how quickly he gets into position. He has so much time. I can say that after Sunil Gavaskar, if any opener has come close to the impact of Virender Sehwag, it is Yashasvi Jaiswal. He has scored double hundreds and hundreds at a pace that gives bowlers no time to settle, while putting his team in a winning position,” Sidhu said.

He further added, “If I had to rate him, his average was around 52 before this series, and now it will be close to 49 or 50. When your average stays near or above 50 even after playing 20 to 30 Test matches, you are considered a great player.”

Sidhu also praised Jaiswal’s fifty on Day 2 of the ongoing Test against England, highlighting the importance of the knock in tough conditions.

“Yashasvi Jaiswal’s fifty today was priceless. In these conditions, there could not have been a better innings. Some might say that he got a life because a catch was dropped, but if you look at how that catch was dropped, you’ll understand. It was such a powerful slash, and the ball that went toward Brook was traveling at great speed. The pull shot he played toward square leg was brilliant. His special quality is the back-and-across movement, which gives him extra time. Then he plays with complete flow, fully aware that he could get out anytime in such conditions,” Sidhu explained.

Rishabh Pant has added another proud moment to his Test career. On Day 2 of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, Manchester, the wicketkeeper-batter hit his 90th six in Test cricket. With that shot, he equaled Virender Sehwag’s record for the most sixes by an Indian in Tests.

What made it even more special was Pant’s courage. He had injured his foot on Day 1 after a yorker from Chris Woakes hit him hard. He was batting on 37 when he had to retire hurt. But on Day 2, despite the injury, Pant walked out to bat once again this time after the fall of Shardul Thakur, with India at 314 for 6.

Pant didn’t hold back. He played his natural attacking game, adding some quick runs with Washington Sundar. After Sundar and Anshul Kamboj got out, Pant carried on and reached his half-century with a four off Ben Stokes. He was finally dismissed for 54 by Jofra Archer, but not before making his mark. With 90 sixes in Tests, Pant now shares the top spot with Sehwag. Before this, Sehwag held the record with 90 sixes from 103 Tests. Rohit Sharma is also in the club with over 80 sixes, while Ravindra Jadeja follows with 74.

His debut in 2018, he become the one of India’s most fearless and reliable players in Test cricket. In just seven years, he has scored over 3,400 runs at an average of 44 , with 8 centuries to his name. From the famous win at The Gabba to his latest knock in Manchester, Pant continues to entertain fans and fight for his team.

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Twitter reactions after Rishabh Pant scripts history with most sixes for India in Test cricket

Rishabh Pant now equals Virender Sehwag for the most sixes by an Indian in Test history. 💥🇮🇳#RishabhPant #ENGvsIND pic.twitter.com/sPWmqD4TLB

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) July 24, 2025

Rishabh Pant, India’s joint highest six-hitter in Test cricket 💙pic.twitter.com/jyJpPCPYEZ

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) July 24, 2025

🚨 Records Rishabh Pant created today

• Most runs for India in the World Test Championship
• Most sixes for India in Test cricket history pic.twitter.com/MAtSW0YTgI

— RP17 Gang™ (@RP17Gang) July 24, 2025

Record Breaking Six from Rishabh Pant! 🔥

Most Sixes for India in Tests,
90 - Virender Sehwag
90 - Rishabh Pant@virendersehwag pic.twitter.com/vl15sGzzhu

— CricketGully (@thecricketgully) July 24, 2025

Rishabh Pant equals Sehwag for the most sixes by an Indian in Test history 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4HxpVlTkrx

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) July 24, 2025

Rishabh Pant overtakes MS Dhoni in the list of most sixes in Test cricket. 👑#Cricket #Test #India #Pant pic.twitter.com/CYvbvhuk4q

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) June 21, 2025

🚨 RECORD ALERT 🚨

Most Sixes for India 🇮🇳 in Test :

1) Rishabh Pant - 90*
2) Virender Sehwag - 90
3) Rohit Sharma - 88
4) MS Dhoni - 78
5) Ravindra Jadeja - 74

~ Once again, Rishabh Pant tops the Elite List 👏🏻 #INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/pdWQ7rHwc8

— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) July 24, 2025

Yashasvi Jaiswal’s stunning rise in red-ball cricket reached another high on Day 3 of the second Test at Edgbaston, as the 23-year-old became the joint-fastest Indian to score 2,000 Test runs. He achieved the feat in his 40th innings, equalling the legendary duo of Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag. The milestone came early in India’s second innings, when Jaiswal reached 10 runs.

At just 23 years and 188 days old, Jaiswal also became the second-youngest Indian to reach the landmark—only Sachin Tendulkar (20 years, 330 days) was younger. The elegant left-hander’s milestone came after a composed 87 in the first innings, where he batted with maturity, absorbing pressure early on and forming vital partnerships—72 runs with Karun Nair and 54 with Shubman Gill—before falling to Ben Stokes.

The list of Indian batters with the fewest innings to reach 2,000 Test runs:

• 40 innings—Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Yashasvi Jaiswal
  
• 43 innings—Vijay Hazare, Gautam Gambhir
  
• 44 innings—Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar
  
• 45 innings—Sourav Ganguly
  46 innings—Cheteshwar Pujara
  

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Jaiswal Crosses 4,000 First-Class Runs, Siraj-Akash Deep Shine With the Ball

Jaiswal also went past 4,000 First-Class runs during the Edgbaston Test, reaching the milestone in his 40th match with an average close to 59. Jaiswal has 14 centuries and 14 half-centuries in First-Class cricket, highlighting his taste for big runs. Since his great debut innings of 171 at Roseau in 2023, he has been a pillar of India's batting lineup, including a fantastic series of 712 runs against England at home earlier this season.

India’s bowlers backed up the batting efforts, with Mohammed Siraj picking up 6 for 70 and Akash Deep taking 4 for 88 to dismiss England for 407, giving the visitors a crucial 180-run first-innings lead. Despite a massive 303-run partnership between Harry Brook (158) and Jamie Smith (184*), Siraj’s early breakthroughs and Akash Deep’s dismissal of Brook helped India wrest back momentum heading into the final two days.

Some familiar surnames are set to grab attention at the upcoming Delhi Premier League (DPL) auction on July 5. One of the young cricketers that is going to be auctioned is Aaryaveer Kohli, the 15 years old son of Vikas Kohli, who’s the eldest brother of Virat Kohli. Aaryaveer, a leg-spinner, is slotted in Category C and was a registered player for Delhi Under-16s last season. He currently trains under Raj Kumar Sharma, who also coached Virat Kohli during his formative years.

Another name drawing interest is Aaryavir Sehwag, the 17-year-old son of former Indian opener Virender Sehwag. Aaryavir has already made an impact at the Under-19 level, including a massive 297-run knock against Meghalaya. He features in Category B of the DPL auction. Joining him in the same category is his 15-year-old younger brother, Vedant Sehwag, an off-spinner who has represented Delhi Under-16s.

The 2024 season of the DPL included teams such as the South Delhi Superstarz, East Delhi Riders, Central Delhi Kings, North Delhi Strikers, West Delhi Lions, and Purani Dilli 6. With the addition of the Outer Delhi and New Delhi teams entering the league for the 2025 season, the league has expanded in both region and competition.

High-Stakes Cricket and Rising Talents in the DPL

The DPL has already seen notable cricketers like Ayush Badoni, Anuj Rawat, Ishant Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Harshit Rana, and Suyash Sharma participate in 2024. In a dramatic final, East Delhi Riders edged past South Delhi Superstarz by three runs to win the inaugural title in New Delhi. Mayank Rawat’s unbeaten 78 off 39 balls powered East Delhi to 183/5 with a late onslaught that included seven fours and six sixes.

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Simarjeet Singh and Raunak Waghela each picked up three wickets to restrict the opposition in a tense chase. The Superstarz faltered early, losing key batters Priyansh Arya (6 off 2) and Ayush Badoni (7 off 5) to Bhagwan Singh and Simarjeet, which derailed their pursuit despite being in touch with the required run rate.

Legendary Indian opener Virender Sehwag recently picked the special Indian player who could be the crowd-puller in Test cricket like the former Indian captain Virat Kohli. 

Virat Kohli, who is now active only in the ODI format after retiring from the T20I and Test cricket, is known as a crowd-puller in modern-day cricket, including in Test cricket. Not only in Test cricket, while Kohli recently returned to Ranji Trophy last season, and more than 12000 people were present, which is completely unusual in Indian domestic cricket. 

It's Rishabh Pant: Virender Sehwag on Indian Test cricket crowd-puller

Virender Sehwag was himself a popular crowd-puller in Indian Test cricket, as his natural fearless batting in every format, including in Test cricket, was loved by every cricket fan. In a recent interview, Sehwag recently admitted that the wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, the new Indian Test vice-captain, is a crowd-puller in modern-day Test cricket. 

Sehwag told Cricbuzz, "After Virat Kohli, if there's one cricketer who can bring people to the stadium to watch Test cricket, it's Rishabh Pant."

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Rishabh Pant already recorded 4 away Test centuries

Rishabh Pant is truly a crowd-puller in Test cricket. His aggressive batting is an asset, along with his continuously growing wicket-keeping skills. Whether he is at home or away, Pant is always dangerous with his bat in Test cricket, as the opposition bowlers never feel comfortable when he is in the crease, just like we always saw the former Indian opener Sehwag. The left-handed batter has recorded six Test centuries, the joint most by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter, and 15 more half-centuries in 75 Test innings, including four away Test centuries and two home Test centuries.  

Pant is now the most expensive cricketer in IPL history, while Lucknow Super Giants won his bid in the IPL 2025 auction for INR 27 crore. He is the present captain of the IPL side, and it is just a picture of his value in cricket. 

Wisden, the cricketing authority, released its list of the top six greatest Indian Test batters of all time on May 12, 2025, in the aftermath of Virat Kohli’s Test retirement, sparking discussions among fans and analysts. The list recognizes India's illustrious Test cricket batting history and highlights players who have played a defining role in the format with their skill, tenacity, and remarkable achievements. With years of consistency and match-winning performances, each of the six batters stamped their mark in the shortest format of Test cricket everywhere they went.

1. Sachin Tendulkar

Leading the list is Sachin Tendulkar, with his 15,921 Test runs in 200 matches at an average of 53.78 that stand unrivalled. Wisden points to his unmatched consistency over a period of 24 years, although he never reached 500 runs in a series or 250 in an innings. Tendulkar's 51 centuries and his ability to overpower attacks across the globe seal his place as India's greatest Test batsman.

2. Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar, with 10,122 runs in 125 Tests, comes second, renowned for his technical wizardry against aggressive pace attacks of the 1970s and 80s. He was the first player to cross the 10,000-run barrier in Tests, an achievement recognized by the BCCI by naming a boardroom '10000 Gavaskar' on May 15, 2025. Gavaskar's 34 centuries and away performances make him an Indian batting trailblazer.

3. Rahul Dravid

Nicknamed 'The Wall,' Rahul Dravid is placed third with 13,288 runs in 164 Tests at an average of 52.31. His marathon innings, like the 270 against Pakistan in 2004, and his performances in India's overseas wins, like the 2001 Kolkata Test, are what set him apart as great. 36 centuries and his unflappable temperament saw him become unstoppable.

4. Virat Kohli

Who retired from Tests on May 12, 2025? He is fourth overall with 9,906 runs in 123 Tests, with 30 centuries. From 2016 to 2019, Kohli was at his peak, made seven double centuries, and was the top batsman in the ICC Test rankings. Kohli was instrumental in changing India's Test fortunes overseas and played an aggressive style of Test cricket and led India to overseas success.

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5. VVS Laxman

Fifth on the list is VVS Laxman, whose 281 in Kolkata against Australia in 2001 isfrequently consideredy India's greatest Test innings. Laxman scored 8,781 runs in 134 Tests, and his wristy class plagued bowlers, most notably Australia. Hisstandsd with Dravid, particularly in comeback victories, are legendary.

Virender Sehwag

Finally, Sehwag rounds out this list with 8,586 runs in 104 Tests, playing a fearless, attacking game. His 319 against Pakistan in 2008, plus two other triple-centuries, demonstrate his dominance and his ability to redefine the Test opening batting role. With an 82.23 strike rate, Sehwag added an extra dimension to India's game when it came to playing Tests.

Former Indian cricketer and father of the legendary T20 and ODI World Cup-winning Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh, Yograj Singh, feels that Rohit Sharma retired too early, like the former Indian opener Virender Sehwag.

Rohit Sharma isn't only a great Indian batter but also one of the greatest captains. He is the only captain to lead a team in all formats of ICC tournament finals. Apart from finishing as the runners-up in the ICC World Test Championship 2021-2023 and ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023, Rohit Sharma-led India won the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 and ICC Champions Trophy 2025.   

The greatest players should play till 50 years of age: Yograj Singh

Starting his international career as a middle-order batter, Rohit established himself as one of the greatest Indian openers in every format. He has already retired from T20I and Test cricket, and is only active in the ODI format as a captain. While Rohit recently announced his retirement from Test cricket, just before the beginning of India's tour of England, Yograj Singh feels that Rohit and Virender Sehwag should play more international cricket, as they retired earlier despite being the greatest players.

Yograj told ANI, "Rohit Sharma and Virender Sehwag are two people who retired too early. The greatest players should play till 50 years of age. I'm sad about their retirement, as no one is left to motivate the youngsters now."

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Rohit Sharma and Virender Sehwag retired after 37 

While Rohit has retired from T20I and Test cricket at the ages of 37 and 38 years, respectively, Sehwag announced his retirement from the game on his 37th birthday. However, unlike the Indian captain Rohit Sharma, Sehwag was already out of the Indian team for more than two years during his retirement from international cricket. 

Rohit and Sehwag both are known for their aggressive batting approaches, which Rohit modified massively lately, while Sehwag had the natural fearless character. At the end of their Test retirement, Sehwag (90 sixes) and Rohit (88 sixes) are standing in the top two positions in the list of most Test sixes by Indians.