Top 10 most memorable moments of Virender Sehwag

#3 83 vs. England at Chennai, 2008

Sehwag’s knock was crucial in India’s run chase

83 runs off 68 balls in a Test match – That’s what swung a match which was firmly in England’s grasp to India’s side. After being on top for three days and two sessions, England gave India an improbable target of 387 to win. Only six times in the history of the game had a side had scored more than 350 to win a match. A 300-run chase had never been done in India.

With the immense power of statistics on their side, the Englishmen enjoyed their tea on the fourth day of the first Test in Chennai. When they took the field, it was with the cold sense of purpose which preceded bowling the thought of bowling the opposition out. Naturally, they thought India would fold. At best, they would hold out for a draw. But England failed to take into account a crucial factor – Virender Sehwag.

The show began in the second over. Two fours off Anderson started his innings, and Sehwag became the highest run-scorer in 2008. Two more boundaries followed in the next over and India were 25/0 in just 3 overs.

If England still hadn’t realised Sehwag’s mindset, they would an over later. Sehwag hit Harmison for 14 runs in an over, and then smoked Monty Panesar over midwicket to bring up India’s 50 off 32 balls, at a run-rate of 9.38. Flintoff was brought in, and the scoring rate reduced. It seemed like Sehwag had abated.

India had reached 70/0 in 10 overs, which was a healthy run-rate in itself. But Sehwag was not finished. The first two balls of Panesar’s second spell went for 10 runs, before which Sehwag had reached his fifty – off 32 balls. Flintoff also disappeared as Sehwag chopped the ball past the slips to bring up India’s 100 – in 18 overs.

India had nonchalantly chased down 1/4th of the target in half a session and England were gobsmacked. The fans were in uproar and Sehwag looked like he would never stop. Graeme Swann was smashed over midwicket, and Sehwag reached the 80s. But the very next ball, he missed the paddle-sweep and was bowled, leaving India at 117/1 in just 23 overs.

India ended up winning the match thanks to Sachin’s century and Yuvraj’s half-century on the final day. But make no mistake, the chase would never have happened if Virender Sehwag – showing utter disregard for cricket history – had not gone after the English bowling line up. Sehwag’s knock proved to be the turning point of the match, and ultimately the series which India won 1-0.