Virender Sehwag has picked his top 5 ODI batters of all time, and that features two Indian stars. Sehwag has kept both Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli as the two Indian batters in his top 5 ODI batters. The others include the likes of Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, and Inzamam ul Haq.
Virender Sehwag too has been a crucial player for India. He marked the change in India’s aggressive attitude taking on the bowlers early to score big runs. With 104 Tests and 251 ODIs to his name, it can also be said that Sehwag ranks among one of the best openers that India has produced.
Plethora of stars
“Chris Gayle was a great batsman and opener. I remember India came to the West Indies in 2002-03, and Chris Gayle hit three centuries in a six-match series. He was the first player I saw at the international level who used to hit sixes from the back foot to fast bowlers,” Sehwag said on Cribuzz.
Sehwag didn’t shy down when he heaped praises for Gayle, de Villiers, and Inzamam. He claimed that he saw Gayle as the first batter who hit sixes against pacers with his back foot. Coming to the Proteas great, he claimed that his ability to hit sixes off-balance sets him apart from others. Meanwhile, he spoke about the calm nature of hitting sixes from Inzamam ul Haq.
“No. 4 is AB de Villiers. I really liked the way he used to play. He’s the only batsman who can hit sixes off-balance. No. 3 is Inzamam-ul-Haq. He’s one of the best ODI players from Asia. Inzamam used to come out to bat at No. 4 and used to control the match. So, I learnt from him how to take the match to the end. How you can control the match. At that time, it was very difficult to chase seven or eight runs in an over. But Inzamam used to do it with a smile. Because he used to calculate when and who to hit sixes,” Sehwag added.
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Sachin & Kohli tops charts
“Everyone’s favourite and my role model, Sachin Tendulkar. You know how it feels to walk on the ground with him? You’re going to the jungle with a lion. Everyone’s eyes are on the lion. And I used to quietly make my runs.”
Sehwag has kept the great Sachin Tendulkar at number 2. He acknowledged that Sachin was his role model and it felt like walking into the jungle with a lion when the great was beside him. He claimed it was easy for him to score runs as all eyes were on the great man. However, he kept Virat Kohli at number 1 for his sheer consistency and how he transformed himself into the chase master.
“Virat Kohli is at number one. Virat Kohli jaisa khiladi shayad he aane wale samay mein aisa consistent player aaye jisko ek tag diya gaya hai—Chasemaster. In the beginning, he wasn’t the Virat Kohli who he is today. He also took his time and learnt a lot. And after 2011-12, he has changed a lot. In his fitness and in his consistency. He has played amazing innings,” Sehwag concluded.
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