On This Day in 2009: Virender Sehwag Slammed 293 Against Sri Lanka in Mumbai Test | WATCH

ON THIS DAY IN 2019: Even after the introduction of T20 cricket, there was a time when breaching the 300-run mark in a Test innings was considered enough for a team. But this sort of planning was irrelevant for a side featuring Virender Sehwag– one of the most aggressive openers cricket has ever witnessed.

In a Test match against Sri Lanka in 2009, Sehwag smashed 293 runs off just 254 balls which still ranks among the most lethal knocks in the longest format. It was the final game of a three-match Test series where India ultimately registered a resounding win by an innings and 24 runs.

Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and decided to bat first, considering the nature of the surface at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. The decision proved quite effective when the visitors wrapped up their first innings with 393 runs.

Opener Tilakaratne Dilshan notched a commendable century, while all-rounder Angelo Matthews missed the ton by a single run. Among others, Tharanga Paranavitana registered a half-century and Prasanna Jayawardene contributed 43 runs to the scoresheet.

The opening duo of Virender Sehwag and Murali Vijay pulled off a blazing start to India’s innings. During his 293-run innings, Sehwag slammed as many as 40 boundaries and 7 maximums.

Even Muttiah Muralitharan, who was the top bowler for Sri Lanka back then, looked helpless infront of Sehwag’s power-packed batting. He conceded 84 runs off the 76 balls he bowled to the Indian opener.

Sehwag got proper assistance from Vijay, who scored a composed 87 off 121 balls before losing his wicket to Rangana Herath. After his dismissal, all of the three upcoming batters recorded fifty-plus scores. Rahul Dravid scored 74, Sachin Tendulkar made 53 and VVS Laxman registered 62 runs.

Following the return of the trio, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni took over the charge, demonstrating his big-hitting prowess. The wicketkeeper-batter whacked 3 fours and 6 maximums en route to his unbeaten 100. As soon as Dhoni reached his hundred, India declared their innings at 726 runs.

Trailing by 333 runs, Sri Lanka failed to make a desirable start to their second innings. While Paranavitana scored a fifty, his opening partner Dilshan returned to the pavilion for 16 runs.

Sangakkara managed to survive 261 balls at the crease and registered a hundred. But no one was there at the other end to support the skipper. With Zaheer Khan fetching a five-wicket haul, Sri Lanka were bundled out for 309 runs.