As India and South Africa square off in a high-stakes two-match Test series starting on November 14, with matches scheduled at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata and the ACA Stadium in Guwahati, it is worth recalling the debut of the man who not only redefined the opening in Test cricket, but also changed it forever. Nawab of Najafgarh Virender Sehwag made his Test debut against South Africa in Bloemfontein on 3 November 2001.Sehwag’s Test debut was marked by an impressive century in which he scored 105 runs off 173 balls while batting at No. 6. He formed a crucial 220-run partnership with Sachin Tendulkar and helped India recover from 68/4 to reach 379 in the first innings, although India eventually lost the match by nine wickets.The former Indian cricketer’s journey to becoming a Test opener began when he was promoted to the position during the 2002 Lord’s Test by then coach John Wright and captain Sourav Ganguly. Despite initial reluctance, Sehwag proved his worth with a confident 84 in his first innings as an opener.
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Prior to his Test career, Sehwag made his ODI debut in 1999 and was primarily regarded as a limited-overs specialist. His aggressive batting style changed the traditional approach to opening Test cricket.Known as the Nawab of Najafgarh, Sehwag’s Test career spanned 104 matches during which he amassed 8,586 runs at a strike rate of 82.23. His Test record includes 23 centuries and 32 half-centuries, along with 40 wickets as a part-time bowler.The upcoming India-South Africa Test series marks the return of these two cricketing powerhouses to the Test format. South Africa enter the series as the current ICC World Test Champions.The two venues chosen for the series are the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata for the first Test and the ACA Stadium in Guwahati for the second Test.South Africa, who last won the Freedom Trophy at home in 2021-22 2-1, were whitewashed 0-3 on their previous tour of India in 2019.In total, India and South Africa have met in 17 Test series since the Proteas readmitted in 1992, with contests often defined by home dominance.South Africa lead the series with eight wins, India have won five and drawn four.At home, South Africa have been dominant, winning seven of the nine series, with two draws (2010–11 and 2023–24) denying India a single series win.On the other hand, India have dominated the domestic rivalry, winning five out of eight, with South Africa’s only success coming in 1999-00.
