Former opener Virender Sehwag became the first Indian batsman to score three hundred points in Test cricket on 29 March 2004 when he reached the milestone against Pakistan in Multan.
On this day: Virender Sehwag becomes India’s first triple centurion (Reuters Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Virender Sehwag became the first Indian to score a triple century on March 29, 2004
- Sehwag broke his own record by scoring 319 on March 29, 2008
- Sehwag’s 319 is still the highest score by an Indian batsman in Test cricket
Virender Sehwag and Indian Cricket share a special bond on March 29th. Sehwag has scored two three-hundreds in his Test cricket and both came on the same day. On this day in 2004, Sehwag entered the record books by becoming the first Indian to hit a three-hundred in Test cricket against Pakistan in his own backyard in Multan.
His good run on March 29 did not end there. In 2008, on the same day, Sehwag broke his own record for the highest single score by an Indian batsman when he hammered 319 in the first Test against South Africa in Chennai. Remarkably, Virender Sehwag is only the fourth batsman after Don Bradman, Brian Lara and Chris Gayle to have scored more than once three hundred points in Test cricket.
Pakistan vs. India, 1st Test, Multan, 2004:
Sehwag played a marathon 309-run knockout against Pakistan in the first Test of the three-match series against Pakistan. After opting to bat first, India reached 356 for 2 on Day 1, with Sehwag undefeated on 228 with Sachin Tendulkar batting on 60*.
Sehwag’s knock on day one also earned him the highest score by an Indian against Pakistan in Pakistan. Sehwag scored his first three hundred of the second session by hitting a six against Saqlain Mushtaq when he hit to 295.
India vs. South Africa, 1st Test, Chennai, 2008:
While Sehwag’s best Test score of 309 came against South Africa on March 28, it wasn’t until March 29 that he broke his own record. On Day 4, the opener added another 10 runs to his total before being sacked by Makhaya Ntini and the Test match ended in a tie. With his batting of 319, Sehwag still holds the record for the highest single score by an Indian batsman in Test cricket.
