Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag has not lost his aggressive touch yet. Sehwag on February 8 became the first cricketer to score a half-century in Ice Cricket Challenge at St. Moritz, Switzerland. He went up against legendary bowlers Shoaib Akhtar, Daniel Vettori and Jacques Kallis but still managed to outclass them in a different kind of cricket. He scored 62 runs from 31 balls with the help of 4 fours and 5 sixes.
The former Indian opener continued his habit of reaching the milestones in style. He reached the half-century by smashing Vettori for a huge six over square-leg boundary. During his innings, he struck Kallis for two consecutive sixes as well.
The 39-year-old’s innings helped Palace Diamonds recover from 3 early blows during the powerplay. Sehwag, who is leading the Palace Diamonds side, lost his wicket while he was trying to pull a short ball from Akhtar for a maximum over the leg side boundary. Abdul Razzaq caught hold of the ball as it hung up in the air after Sehwag hit it high on the bat.
Here’s how Twitterati reacted to Sehwag’s innings –
Formats change but @virendersehwag doesn’t!
He never compromises with his strike rate
Form is temporary but Class and #ViruPanti are always permanent #IceCricket #IceCricketChallenge pic.twitter.com/Iiu09RHj4b— Lavish Mall (@LavishingLavish) February 8, 2018
पानी नहीं बर्फ़ में भी जो आग लगा दें वही हैं #VirenderSehwag… जी हां #IceCricket का पहला अर्धशतक @virendersehwag के नाम…25 गेंदों में जड़ा आतिशी अर्धशतक…#IceCricketChallenge #ICEonFire pic.twitter.com/u8xFUCpCnl
— Syed Hussain (@syedhussain_) February 8, 2018
First of tournament – @virendersehwag
First of tournament – @virendersehwag
First fifty of tournament –@virendersehwag in just 25balls
What a man love you paji…
Remind of old days are back #IceCricket #IceCricketChallenge #AbJamegiKulfi #ViruPanti— Ram chaudhary (@RamratanGodara) February 8, 2018
पाजी #IceCricket में तोह आपको छोड़ बाकी सब पापड़ बेल रहे हैं @virendersehwag
— शान (@iamshaaan) February 8, 2018
Sehwag and 1st Ball Four A Perfect Relationship ! 😛#IceCricket @virendersehwag
— Ayush Jain (@ImAyuJain96) February 8, 2018
Before ice cricket : Ek tha viru
After ice cricket : viru zinda hai
Its raining sixes in ice
What a player @virendersehwag #ice cricket— Mayur Gupta (@MayurGupta1818) February 8, 2018
All Hail #Virendersehwag 50 in -7 Degree on Ice Ground. ALL TIMES GREAT OPENER He is. #IceCricketChallenge #IceCricket @ICC @virendersehwag
— Mohit Grover (@mohitgroverAT) February 8, 2018
Even on ice @virendersehwag hits the first ball for a boundary.
Venues change, formats change, teams change, grounds change but Sehwag’s Swag remains the same.#IceCricketChallenge #IceCricket #Sehwag #Diamonds #Royals— Akeel Mamawala (@Beingakeel) February 8, 2018
#IceCricketChallenge @virendersehwag pic.twitter.com/n1cVPRadaw
— Yash (@Yaseenn_) February 8, 2018
He @virendersehwag can play on any surface
62 runs of 31 balls nd that too in -7℃
LEGEND FOREVER#IceCricket #BPD @stmoritz_ch— Rajat Ahuja (@Rajat_ahuja3) February 8, 2018
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Earlie, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene and Michael Hussey could not make the most of their Ice cricket debut as they registered scores in single digits. Andrew Symonds played well scoring 40 runs off 30 balls including 3 fours and 1 six. For Royals, Abdul Razzaq was the most successful bowler as he picked up four wickets and did not leak runs.
India’s World Cup 2007 hero, Joginder Sharma came to bat as well. Joginder took on Akhtar in his last over and struck him for 10 runs. He scored 18 runs off 9 balls.
Meanwhile, Sehwag’s side set 165 runs target for Afridi’s Royals in their allotted 20 overs.
