West Indian great Viv Richards and legendary Indian opener Virender Sehwag were both known for their fearless, attacking cricket. Just a day after Viv Richards praised Virender Sehwag for his incredible contributions to Test cricket, the former Indian opener showed his respect to the cricketer.
Both Richards and Sehwag took the game to the bowlers from the first delivery, but the former Indian opener’s impact in Test cricket was particularly devastating. The 46-year-old turned every session into a spectacle, leaving the bowlers from Australia, South Africa and Pakistan speechless.
Even today, after his retirement in 2014, the void left by the West Indies great at the top of the Indian batting order is noticeable, with only Yashasvi Jaiswal showing glimpses of Sehwag’s fearless approach. Sehwag’s numbers prove his legacy as one of the most destructive openers.
Your daily dose of cricket!
Virender Sehwag’s fearless style leaves a lasting impact on Viv Richards
In 104 Test matches, Sehwag scored 8,586 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 82.23, still the highest of any Indian batter in the traditional format of the game. He had also scored India’s first ever triple-treble against Pakistan in 2004 and repeated the feat against South Africa in 2008. He came heartbreakingly close to a third triple in 2009, finishing 293 against Sri Lanka.
Also Read: Mohammed Siraj threatens Justin Greaves on field as batter terrorizes Indian bowling attack
Sehwag’s approach was simple but brutal: see the ball, hit the ball. He attacked at any time, whether it was last time before lunch, tea or stumps; every session was an opportunity to dominate the bowlers. One of Sehwag’s iconic innings came during the 2003 MCG Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.
His 195-run blitz showed how he could take control of a match from the start, forcing bowlers to constantly change their plans; Yet they failed to control its devastation. The former Indian opener’s bold style made him a nightmare for any bowling attack and inspired a generation of aggressive batsmen.
Viv Richards hails Virender Sehwag as a fearless force who revived Test cricket
Viv Richards saw her reflection in Sehwag. He admired the way Sehwag reignited enthusiasm in Test cricket, bringing fans back to stadiums even when matches seemed one-sided. Sehwag continued the tradition of attacking cricket, keeping the format alive with his fearless style.
He said: “When I watched Sehwag bat, I saw a reflection of myself. I found him even more dangerous than Shahid Afridi and Adam Gilchrist. Test cricket was fading, but Sehwag revived the format. The kind of enthusiasm he brought to the game is one of the reasons why 15,000 to 20,000 fans still gather today to watch a West Indies team weakened. This is Sehwag’s legacy. “
Also Read: Rajasthan Royals star Vaibhav Suryavanshi gets leadership role as Sanju Samson mulls exit
Virender Sehwag reacts to Viv Richards’ admiration
Virender Sehwag felt honored by Viv Richards’ praise and responded with gratitude. He acknowledged Richards’ impact on cricket and said he was simply keeping the tradition alive for the next generation. He also emphasized that Test cricket will continue to flourish as long as players enjoy attacking and playing without fear.
Sehwag posted,
Humiliated, Sir @ivivianrichards 🙏
You made bowlers fear batsmen – just kept the tradition alive for the next generation.
Test cricket will never die as long as there is joy in attacking it!– Virrender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 13, 2025
