‘Best opening batsman after Sunil Gavaskar’ – Sourav Ganguly on Virender Sehwag | Cricket News

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has showered praise on Virender Sehwag, who has been included in the ICC Hall of Fame.
“You changed the dynamics of batting at the top in Test cricket. Your talent was special. You scored runs at such a fast pace, you were just exceptionally good, and you are probably the best opening batsman after Sunil Gavaskar,” Ganguly wrote in his letter to Sehwag.
Ganguly recalls how he first heard about Sehwag and what was his specialty that made him different from the others.
“I remember there was a lot of talk when you first played first-class cricket around how good you were, how hard you hit the ball and how you cleared the boundary ropes.
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“That is how I first heard of you. The India selectors kept updating us that you were very good, and you came into the international set-up early on,” said Ganguly.
The former India captain also revealed why the Delhi batsman was bit tentative when he asked him to open for the first time in a Test match at Lord’s in 2002.
“I remember when I told you that you should try opening, you were unsure because you had never done it,” said Ganguly.
“I believe no-one is born to bat in any particular position and that you could do it because of the talent you possessed.
“You were initially tentative but once you got going for the first time in a Test match at Lord’s in 2002, you got an 80 in no time. From there, your confidence continued to grow.”Most Read
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Ganguly admitted Sehwag was a better Test batter and explained: “You enjoyed playing all the different formats and while you were good at one-day cricket, I think you were even better in Tests.
“You could do it in all conditions and your triple hundred in Multan remains one of my favourite innings. You hit a six to get to 200 and then did the same to get to 300 – and you had told us you were going to do it too!
“Having you opening the batting made life easy for the batters that came after you.”