Virender Sehwag hangs up his boots! Never to be seen again in international cricket or IPL

Virender Sehwag, fondly known as Viru, announced his retirement from international cricket and the Indian Premier League.

Sehwag chose his 37th birthday and took to micro-blogging site Twitter and put an end to his illustrious career spanning over a decade.




"I have always done what I felt was right and not what conformists thought to be right. God has been kind and I have done what I wanted to do -- on the field and in my life. And I had decided some time back that I will retire on my 37th birthday. So today, while I spend my day with my family, I hereby announce my retirement from all forms of International Cricket and from the Indian Premier League," Sehwag said in a statement.

He further stated, “Cricket has been my life and continues to be so. Playing for India was a memorable journey and I tried to make it more memorable for my team mates and the Indian cricket fans. I believe that I was reasonably successful in doing so. For that, I wish to thank all my team mates over the years - some of the greatest players of the game. I would like to thank all my captains who believed in me and backed me to the hilt. I also thank our greatest partner, the Indian cricket fan, for all the love, support and memories.”

Sehwag had not been in the Indian team since 2013 and had not been in the reckoning either.

Sehwag played 104 Tests scoring 8586 runs at an impressive average of 49.34, hitting 23 centuries and 32 half-centuries in his 12 years of international career.

The former Indian batsman is the only triple centurion in Tests for India having scored a career-best knock of 319 against Pakistan at Multan, which also is an Indian record.

Sehwag also has his name in the rare list of batsmen to have scored two triple tons with his next one (309) coming against South Africa.

He was a part of two World Cup winning teams under Mahendra Singh Dhoni's leadership.

Recently, Zaheer Khan had also announced international retirement.

Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar, Amit Mishra, Rohit Sharma, including other personalities took to Twitter and congratulated Sehwag: