Featured: Viru and Zak Retire To Leave Behind A Legacy

Image// rediff.com

Virender Sehwag has constructed a wondrous career with a persistent quest of runs which includes an extravagant flair in hitting boundaries. With minimum footwork and maximum determination for the game, he has piled up Test runs at a faster pace than anyone else in history. In the usual case, when the bowlers are bowling, they always fancy their chances but instead, but when Sehwag is on the strikers end, he changes the whole equation of the game by fancying his chances more than that of the bowler bowling to him.

On the other hand, there is Zaheer Khan, with all the traits of Pakistani fast bowlers which made them the lethal weapon of their team. He was often compared to the King of Swing - Wasim Akram. Though, he might not have the same skills that Akram had, but mentally, he was effective enough to be compared with the King of Swing. Once any batsman gave him a slim hint of weakness, he was always ready to go for the kill. 

Image// SportsNDTV

Both these players have served their nation for more than a decade. They have left enough scars on some of the heart-throbbing players of the game along with innumerable memories for the fans to cherish. Let us retrieve the peak moments of their fabled career.

Sehwag is the only Indian player to score 2 triple centuries in Test cricket. Well, scoring triple century isn’t something what others haven't managed but scoring it  at the strike rate of 105 is surely mesmerizing. Not only this, but bringing up 300 with a six certainly requires millenniums of guts. But that’s Virender Sehwag for you. Apart from this, Sehwag has also scored a double century in ODI. 8^th December 2011, the day when Sehwag was in the mood of pure destruction which indeed led to the nightmare for all the West Indies bowlers. On this day, Sehwag scored his double century by smashing all the West Indian bowlers out of the park. It was a merciless innings by Sehwag and the one that will be remembered for decades to come.

Image// The Guardian

  

Zaheer Khan’s best season came in 2011 World Cup. Oh my goodness! Who doesn’t remember the first and the last spell of every game by Zaheer Khan. He was probably the lone bowling warrior behind the win of 2011 World Cup for India.  He dismissed 21 players, equalling with Shahid Afridi for the highest wickets in the World Cup 2011. Also, because of this brilliant performance, he was awarded Arjuna Award, India’s second highest sporting award given by the President. However, one step lower, his second best season came in 2007 when he thrashed the English batsmen leaving them high and dry. In that series, Zaheer took 19 wickets with some serious pace and artistic swing bowling.

There are many funny and comical things happening on the field which sometimes, the viewers are unaware about. Let us have a brief flashback of some typical Sehwag moments on the field.

In the game where he scored his triple century, his idol – Sachin Tendulkar was having the best seat enjoying the destruction thoroughly at the non-strikers end. When Sehwag scored a century, Tendulkar went down the crease to tell him to not hit sixes anymore and shape his innings calmly. He somehow managed to control the destruction but when he was on 295, he called up Sachin at the middle of the pitch and told him that if Saqlain Mushtaq comes on to bowl then he will definitely not stop.

Fortunately it was Saqlain only who was given the ball. Sehwag kept his words and showed some serious guts by hitting the first ball that Saqlain bowled for a six, completing his 300 runs. Also in recent All Stars match, Sehwag was seen singing song on the microphone while batting. Well, other players may look under pressure many times but this legend never does. He is indeed seen pressurizing the opponent.

Virender Sehwag singing a song during the 2nd Cricket All Stars match
Posted by Cricket Videos on Thursday, 12 November 2015

Once, India was playing against Pakistan. India was only one wicket down with Dravid and Sehwag at the crease. Out of nowhere, the camera spotted a girl in the audience holding a poster having “ Zaheer, I love you” written on it. At the same moment, Zaheer saw the big screen too, on which that girl was being shown. There were mixed feelings for sure but who in the world knew that Zaheer was a romantic boy? Yes, when the camera was turned on to Zaheer, he blew a flying kiss to that girl. That was certainly the “Aww” moment for the crowd. Well, Zaheer surely won her heart.

Now, Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan, both have announced their retirements from international cricket. After an awe-inspiring and glorious career of more than a decade too, they didn’t receive a so called ‘Perfect Farewell’. They gave everything for the country by playing cricket delightfully.

However, Virender Sehwag ended his career as “The most destructive player” and Zaheer Khan ended it by claiming the title of “ The most complete Indian bowler”.