195- VIRENDER SEHWAG, Melbourne, 2003

Whenever a list of the greatest openers in Test match history will be made, many will be surprised to find the name of Virender Sehwag near the top. Given that he started his Test career in the middle order and scored a century on debut against South Africa in 2001, Sehwag was a revelation in ODIs as an opener and when India toured Australia in 2003-04, Sehwag was opening in Tests as well.

India had drawn the first Test at Brisbane in the series and won the second Test at Adelaide and came into the third Test in Melbourne with a lead of 1-0. It was a golden chance for India to win the series down under, something that hasn’t been achieved yet.

India received a perfect start with Virender Sehwag going hammer and tongs at the Australian bowling attack comprised of Brett Lee, Brad Williams, Nathan Bracken, and Stuart MacGill. Sehwag added 141 with Aakash Chopra for the first wicket, with Chopra contributing 48 runs. He then added 137 runs with Rahul Dravid, out of which Dravid made 49 runs.

Sehwag, however, didn’t let the pressure off the gas pedal, as he reached 195 off 232 balls with 25 fours and 5 sixes at an astonishing strike rate of 83.69. He was in sight of a day one double hundred at the MCG, but in his cavalier attitude, went for a six to complete his double hundred and was caught by Bracken in the cow corner off Simon Katich.

The impact of his innings can be felt in the final total, as India was bowled out for 366 and went on to lose the Test match by 9 wickets.