'I Had To Score Runs Faster Than Sachin, Sourav To Create My Identity': Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag made a big statement about his fast-paced style of batting and has revealed why he used to like to score runs so fast throughout his decorated cricketing career.

Ex-India Cricketer Virender Sehwag ( Image Source :Getty Images )

New Delhi: Former India hard-hitting opener Virender Sehwag was regarded as one the most fearsome batters in the world due to his remarkable timing and stroke-making abilities. Every bowler was in awe of Sehwag's lethal batting on the cricket field. The fiery pace at which the 'Nawab of Najafgarh' scored runs, even in red-ball cricket, helped him shine among stalwarts of his generation.

After retiring from international cricket, Sehwag may not rain fours and sixes on the field, but he remains in the headlines with his 'comments and revelations'. The cricketer-turned-commentator has now made a big statement about his fast-paced style of batting and has revealed why he used to like to score runs so fast throughout his decorated cricketing career.

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Speaking to Sports 18, Sehwag opined, "Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly all would score their centuries playing 150-200 balls. If I scored hundreds at the same rate, no one would remember me. I had to score runs faster than them to create my identity.”

Interestingly, Sehwag's aggressive batting style suits more to white-ball cricket but he has been more successful in Test matches in which he has scored 6248 runs in 72 Tests at an average of 52.50 including 17 centuries and 19 half-centuries.

“I always thought that if I stayed till the end of the day, I should score 250 runs, and in that process, I obviously would have to cross 100, 150, 200 and so on. So, there was no pressure in hitting a ball to or over the fence in the nineties because the goal was not to stop at 100,” the legendary opener added.