The former Indian opener and one of the most destructive openers to ever grace the world of cricket, Virender Sehwag, turned 44 today i.e. Thursday, October 20, 2022. The hunting partner of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar and the person who redefined Test cricket has been one of the most entertaining cricketers of all time.
The Nawab of Najafgarh made his India debut in 1999 and he became the 11th Indian cricketer to score a century on a Test debut in 2001. In the initial part of his career, Sehwag batted in the middle order, the counter-attacking batter showcased his true potential when the profound Sourav Ganguly asked him to open the innings. With astute hand-eye coordination along with minimal footwork, the Delhi-based cricketer started wreaking havoc in the powerplays and dominated the opposition even before they could execute their plan. The former Indian captain’s sublime 309 against Pakistan in Multan gave him the title of ‘Sultan of Multan”. His daredevil approach to reaching the 300-run mark with a maximum to Saqlain Mushtaq is still one of the fascinating cricket stories. Sehwag was also one of the MVPs of India’s 2011 ODI World Cup glory. He was one of the highest run-getters for India in the tournament and as usual, dominated the pacers with the new ball in the powerplay. In 2012, he became the second Indian cricketer and the first skipper to smash a double century in ODI cricket.
Sehwag played 104 Test matches and gathered 8586 runs and in the 50-over format, he amassed 8273 runs in 251 games. Sehwag’s stint in the longest format is one of the most storied careers as the fearless batter has an average of 49.34 with a strike rate of 82.23. The likes of Dale Steyn, Shoaib Akhtar and Brett Lee, who had the cricketing world by their grasp had some major difficulties while bowling to Viru.
In the latter part of his career, Sehwag’s penchant for smashing boundaries in the powerplay became his nemesis as his bewitching hand-eye coordination weakened and his lack of footwork made things worse. The former Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) captain’s potent career came to an end in 2015, when he announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket on this day seven years ago.
As Sehwag’s assault in the powerplay was a sight to behold, he witnessed the same fate on the commercial pitch as well. Viru was also one of the most sought-after cricketers by brands during his playing days. His ability to attract people with his extravagant batting also managed to attract brands with lucrative endorsement deals. His exhilarating outing on the cricket field augmented his stature on the commercial field. On the birthday of one of the most celebrated cricketers, let’s have a look at his endorsements, investments, net worth and charity:
Endorsements:
Even after retirement, over the years, Sehwag, through his antics on social media has managed to garner some new and fruitful endorsement deals. The former Indian opener had endorsement deals with the likes of Adidas, Boost, Samsung Mobiles, Reebok, Hero Honda, and several others.
In one of the recent developments, Viru has been announced as the goodwill ambassador for Safalta.
He ventured into the NFT market with an association with the cricket NFT platform, Rario.
Investments:
Sehwag initiated his business venture with the establishment of Sehwag International School in Haryana.
Net Worth:
Viru’s net worth is estimated to be around INR 280 crore. His massive wealth can be attributed to his contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), his Indian Premier League (IPL) contract, endorsement deals and personal investments.
Sehwag has one of the most lavish houses in Hauz Khas Space of Delhi. His luxurious house entails all the necessary facilities along with a gym and pool.
The aggressive batter’s garage consists of some of the most high-end cars like the BMW 730 ld, BMW 5 series, and Bentley Continental.
Charity:
The former Indian captain had formed an NGO named Virender Sehwag Foundation. In 2021, the NGO provided free food to 51,000 people and offered more help to COVID-affected patients.