Virender Sehwag celebrates after scoring his double century during the second day of the third Test match against Sri Lanka at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on December 3, 2009. Photos: K.R. Deepak
Sehwag also became the eighth Indian to cross the 6000-run mark in Test cricket. Playing in his 72nd Test, he has now 6213 runs with 17 hundreds and 19 half-centuries at an average of 52.65.
Sehwag’s unbeaten 284 also surpassed his own highest score on a single day — 257 amassed en route to his 319 against South Africa in Chennai in March, 2008.
Virender Sehwag being greeted by Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara.
Rahul Dravid plays a shot during the third Test in Mumbai.
Virender Sehwag being congratulated by Muttiah Muralitharan during the Mumbai Test.
Sehwag has also become the highest double century maker for India having a total of six such innings to his name, one more than Dravid. Tendulkar and Gavaskar have scored four double centuries each.
The 31-year-old right-hander has also scored 6730 runs from 211 ODIs with 11 hundreds at an average of 33.98, and 223 runs from the 23 Twenty20 internationals.
Sehwag stood poised to become the first-ever batsman to notch three triple hundreds in Test cricket. At present he, along with Australian legend Donald Bradman and West Indian great Brian Lara are the only two players with two triple tons to their names.
Sehwag has crossed the 150-run mark on 12 occasions, including the ongoing third Test.