Virender Sehwag breaks silence on being namedropped alongside Shahid Afridi by Viv Richards

West Indies great Viv Richards and legendary Indian opener Virender Sehwag were both known for their fearless and attacking cricket. Just a day after Viv Richards praised Virender Sehwag for his incredible contributions to Test cricket, the former India opener showed his respect to the cricketer.

Both Richards and Sehwag took the game to the bowlers from the very first delivery, but the former Indian opener’s impact in Test cricket was uniquely devastating. The 46-year-old turned every session into a spectacle, leaving bowlers from Australia to South Africa and Pakistan speechless.

Even today, after his retirement in 2014, the void the West Indies great left at the top of India’s 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.

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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 by any Indian batter in the traditional format of the game. He had also scored India’s first-ever triple century 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.

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Sehwag’s approach was simple yet brutal: see the ball, hit the ball. He attacked at all times, whether it was the last over before lunch, tea, or stumps; every session was an opportunity to dominate the bowlers. One of Sehwag’s iconic innings came in the 2003 MCG Test during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.

His 195-run blitz showcased how he could take control of a match from the very start, forcing bowlers to constantly change their plans; still, they failed to control his devastation. The former Indian opener’s audacious 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 a reflection of himself in Sehwag. He admired how Sehwag revived excitement in Test cricket, bringing fans back to the stadiums even when matches seemed one-sided. Sehwag carried forward the tradition of attacking cricket, keeping the format alive with his fearless style.

He stated, “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 excitement he brought to the game is one of the reasons 15,000 to 20,000 fans are turning up even today to watch a weakened West Indies team. That's Sehwag's legacy.”

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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 just keeping the tradition alive for the next generation. He also emphasized that Test cricket will continue to thrive as long as players enjoy attacking and playing fearlessly.

Sehwag posted, X: “Humbled, Sir @ivivianrichards. You made bowlers fear batsmen—I just kept the tradition alive for the next generation. Test cricket will never die as long as there's joy in attacking it.”

Humbled, Sir @ivivianrichards 🙏
You made bowlers fear batsmen — I just kept the tradition alive for the next generation.
Test cricket will never die as long as there’s joy in attacking it!

— Virrender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 13, 2025