Former India opener Virender Sehwag, who was one of the most destructive batters of the modern era, has been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame for a stellar cricket career that spanned for more than a decade.
Along with Sehwag, India trailblazer Diana Edulji and Sri Lanka superstar Aravinda de Silva also became the latest inductees in the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame on Monday.
“Three greats of the game have become the latest inductees to be added to the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame,” the ICC said in its statement.
Impactful And Legendary Virender Sehwag
The raw numbers don’t do justice to the impact that Sehwag made during his distinguished playing career as the aggressive opener entertained crowds and kept opposition bowlers continuously shaking their heads while he was at the crease.
The former India opener Sehwag scored a total of 23 Test centuries during his illustrious career – the fifth most by an India men’s player – with his highest score of 319 against South Africa in Chennai in 2008 the best of any Indian player ever. But it wasn’t just against the red-ball that Sehwag thrived, with the dynamic right-hander just as effective against the white-ball with an equally imposing record at ODI level.
Sehwag totalled 8,273 runs for India in 50-over cricket and his 219 against the West Indies in Indore in 2011 remains the third-highest score achieved by any men’s player at ODI level.
He also played a pivotal role in helping India claim their second ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup title in 2011, with his 380 runs for the tournament the seventh-best for any player during the tournament.
“I would like to thank the ICC and the jury for inducting me with this honour. I feel extremely grateful for having spent a great part of my life doing what I loved most, ‘hitting the cricket ball’,” Sehwag was quoted as saying by ICC.
“I would also like to thank my family, friends, people I played with, and countless people who prayed for me selflessly,” he added.
Special Feat For Diana Edulji and Aravinda de Silva
Edulji made just as big an impact on the field during her playing days as captain of India as she did as an administrator post-career and is a welcome addition to the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
She played 54 matches for India over three different decades and made her mark as a slow left-arm orthodox spinner that netted more than 100 wickets for her country. But it is perhaps off the field that Edulji has had an even greater impact, having played a major role as a trailblazer for India’s women’s cricketers for many decades.
In her role as administrator with Western Railways, Edulji worked hard to increase employment opportunities for talented female cricketers in India, and helped shape the sports policy of Western and Indian Railways.
Meanwhile, De Silva, a classy batter that valued his own wicket and the winner of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup with Sri Lanka in 1996, was well renowned at being able to adapt the way he played depending on the circumstances.
The consistent right-hander scored 20 Test centuries during an 18-year international career – the third most hundreds by any Sri Lanka men’s player – and was just as adept against the white-ball with another 11 centuries coming in 50-over cricket.
The most important of those was in the 1996 World Cup final, as de Silva almost single-handedly willed his side over the line against Australia with an unbeaten 107 not out in what was an unforgettable run chase.