Indian cricket: Stars who glittered in 2009

He continued to be the worst nightmare for bowlers the world over. He batted in his inimitable swashbuckling style in all formats of the game and his magnum opus came about at the Brabourne stadium in Mumbai in December.

He set the hallowed venue alight by taking the Sri Lankan bowling apart in the third Test by slamming the fastest 250 in the longer version of the game on his way to 293 off just 254 balls with 40 fours and seven sixes.

He missed by seven runs the feat of becoming the first player in Test cricket to get three triple hundreds but that was not going to bother Sehwag one bit. Blithe spirit as usual the Indiana Jones of Indian cricket continued to enthrall spectators and TV audiences hitting the ball hard, high and handsomely. Preceding the 293 was another three figure knock of 131.

His career strike rate in Tests crossed 80 even as the career strike rate in ODIs crossed the 100 mark. He continued to be a law unto himself in the shorter versions of the game his best being an electrifying 125 not out off just 74 balls with 14 fours and four sixes against New Zealand at Hamilton. Not unexpectedly he was Wisdeną¬„ading cricketer of the year.

In Image: Virender Sehwag playing his trademark upper cut.

Text: Partab Ramchand
Images: Getty Images

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