Virender Sehwag was born on 20 October 1978 in Najafgarh, Delhi, India, into a grain‑merchant Jat family from Haryana. He grew up in a large joint household with sixteen cousins, two older sisters (Manju, Anju), and a younger brother, Vinod. His father, Krishan, gifted him a toy bat when Virender was just seven months old, igniting his lifelong passion for cricket.
He studied at Arora Vidya School and later graduated from Jamia Millia Islamia. At age 12, after a cricket injury broke a tooth, his father briefly halted his playing—but his mother’s support allowed him to resume. Under the coaching of Amar Nath Sharma, Sehwag developed into a fiercely attacking batsman.
Standing around 1.73 m, Sehwag became synonymous with aggressive stroke‑play, famously pioneering a fearless, take‑the‑bowler‑on ethos across formats. His unorthodox technique featured powerful square cuts, upper cuts, and late drives, often at the expense of traditional footwork—a risk he chased for big rewards.
Off‑field, Sehwag is playful and sharp-witted. He runs “Sehwag Favourites,” a vegetarian restaurant named after his cricket achievements. Additionally, he fulfilled his father’s dream by founding Sehwag International School in Haryana, a residential sports‑centric institution.
In April 2004, Sehwag married Aarti Ahlawat in a high‑profile ceremony hosted by Arun Jaitley. The couple has two sons: Aryavir (born October 2007) and Vedant (born 2010). Aarti and Sehwag have maintained a mostly private life, though recent reports suggest they may be living separately. Sehwag frequently shares family anecdotes—like teasing Aryavir about missing a “Ferrari” by scoring 297 in school cricket.
Sehwag debuted in first‑class cricket for Delhi in the 1997–98 Ranji Trophy season. He soared in 1998–99, finishing fifth in Duleep Trophy run‑scorer lists, including a blistering 274 off 327 balls against South Zone. Sehwag matched that with a rapid 187 versus Punjab.
He earned a spot in the U‑19 South Africa tour and by mid‑2001, secured his place in India’s senior side. Domestically, Sehwag captained North Zone to Deodhar Trophy titles in 2004–05 and 2005–06. He also had a brief stint with Leicestershire in 2003, cut short by a back injury.
Sehwag debuted in ODIs on 1 April 1999 vs Pakistan and in Tests on 3 November 2001 vs South Africa. Over his international career (1999–2013), he amassed:
| Format | Matches (M) | Innings (Inn) | Runs | Balls Faced (BF) | Highest Score (HS) | Average (Avg) | Strike Rate (SR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 104 | 180 | 8,586 | 10,441 | 319 | 49.34 | 82.24 |
| ODI | 251 | 245 | 8,273 | 7,929 | 219 | 35.06 | 104.34 |
| T20I | 19 | 18 | 394 | 271 | 68 | 21.89 | 145.39 |
International High Points:
Scored Test 100s on debut and two triple centuries—319 against South Africa (fastest triple century off 278 balls) and 309 vs Pakistan .
First Indian to win Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for 2008 and again in 2009.
Held records for fastest ODI double century (140-ball 219).
A key part of India 2007 T20 WC, 2011 ODI WC, and 2002 Champions Trophy wins.
Served as vice-captain and occasional acting captain in Tests and ODIs.
Retired from all international cricket on 20 October 2015.
Sehwag joined the inaugural 2008 IPL season with Delhi Daredevils, eventually becoming captain in initial editions. He later handed leadership to Gautam Gambhir. His IPL trajectory:
Highlights:
Led DD to victories, including a one-sided T20 thriller vs Kings XI Punjab in Cape Town, scoring 38* in 16 balls.
In IPL 4, became the only player retained by Delhi.
Notched five consecutive IPL half-centuries across seasons .
Ended IPL career with 2,728 runs in 104 matches at over 150 strike rate, including 2 centuries and 16 fifties.
Named in ESPNcricinfo IPL all‑time XI at 10‑year anniversary
Sehwag dealt with various physical setbacks: a childhood dental injury, back injury in 2003, and intermittent fitness concerns later in career. Yet his natural talent and aggressive intent enabled significant comebacks. He remained fit enough to compete effectively across formats until 2013.
Post-retirement, Sehwag transitioned smoothly to commentary and mentorship—eschewing major injuries, he stayed in public life through broadcasting, social media, and brand engagements.
