Virender Sehwag uncovers score sheet of match after which he got India call-up, points to strike rate

Virender Sehwag seen playing in a park in 2001 – before his Test debut, but after the special match in question

Virender Sehwag, the India opener who had revolutionised Test cricket batting in the course of his devastating and joyous 12-year career, has uncovered an old score card – of a very special match.

The match in question is a tour match which Zimbabwe played in Faridabad against Board President XI for practice on their tour of India in November 2000.

Sehwag, who had made his debut for Delhi in 1997, had already been a rage in the domestic circuit for three years by the time this match took place, but had been disappointing in the 1 ODI he had been given a chance in as an all-rounder in 1999 against Pakistan.

After the tour match in question, in which the Delhi dasher scored 87 and 72 in two innings – with a strike rate of 110.42 – he was given a chance to prove his worth to the Indian team again. He played at No. 5 in the first innings, and opened the innings in the second.

He was picked in the squad for the ODI series against Zimbabwe in December 2000, got his first Test cap next year, and had become a regular in the side by the middle of 2001.

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— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) November 1, 2015

Found the score sheet that led to my selection into the Indian team .look guys my strike rate hasn't changed much !

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) November 1, 2015