BGT Classics: Vintage Sehwag’s Dazzling 195 That Rocked Australia At MCG

Probuddha Bhattacharjee

Virender Sehwag [Source: @BBCHindi/x.com]Virender Sehwag [Source: @BBCHindi/x.com]

India will soon tour Australia to revive one of the fiercest rivalries in the cricketing universe. The Border Gavaskar Trophy has brought out the best in the players, and we have witnessed some memorable performances by players from both nations. 

We will reflect on some memorable performances in the Border Gavaskar Trophy over the years. 

Turning Back the Clock to 2003: Sehwag’s Blistering Knock Against Australia

Let us turn the clock back to 2003 and look at one of the best Test knocks played by an Indian opener on Australian soil. In the third Test of the series, India batted first, and Virender Sehwag flourished at his best. 

The dynamic Indian opener thrashed Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, and Stuart McGill to all parts of the ground and dominated the game like a true boss. His partnership with Aakash Chopra for the opening wicket laid a solid foundation for Team India. The opening duo stitched together 141 runs. 

Sehwag’s Ruthless Assault on the Australian Bowlers

After the fall of the first wicket, Rahul Dravid joined Sehwag in the middle, and India’s dominance extended from the first to the post-lunch session. Sehwag batted with great fluency, and it looked like the Australians had no answer to his ruthless hitting. Even the departure of Rahul Dravid, followed by a golden duck by the great Sachin Tendulkar, did not seem to worry India’s swashbuckler. 

Video Courtesy - Cricket Australia Youtube Channel

Virender Sehwag would have scored a double Hundred on the first day of the match and went for it against Simon Katich. With India stationed at 311/3, the Indian opener took on a full toss bowled by the per-time spinner and tried to clear the long-on fence. However, he did not get the connection right and was caught in the deep by Nathan Bracken. A brilliant show came to an end as Sehwag walked back to the pavilion on a personal score of 195 runs off 233 deliveries. 25 fours and five sixes decorated his knock.

India’s Collapse and Australia’s Dominant Reply

Sehwag’s dismissal late on Day 1 caused India to collapse early the next day, and they failed to recover. India finished day 1 on 329 for 4. However, on the second day, they lost six wickets for 16 runs and were bundled out for 366, giving away the advantage they had taken on Day 1.

Ricky Ponting (257 off 458) and Matthew Hayden (136 off 173) decimated the Indian bowlers as Australia posted a massive total of 558 in their first innings. Even though Rahul Dravid and Saurav Ganguly fought for the team in the second innings, India managed 286 in their second innings, setting a target of 95 for the home team. Australia chased down the target rather easily, losing only a single wicket and thus winning the game.

Sehwag’s 195: An Iconic Knock that Defined Aggressive Batting

Even though Sehwag’s effort was a lost cause, the attitude, temperament, and dominance he showed against the best bowling attack of the era make the knock immortal. About 21 years ago, India’s OG swashbuckler laid down the template of the aggressive batting the teams are showing now. The 195 by Virender Sehwag at MCG will remain one of the best knocks by an Indian batter on Australian soil.