Sehwag the master

Wasim Jaffer and Virender Sehwag during the latter's historic innings © Getty Images

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Not even the great Sachin Tendulkar has passed 300 in a Test. Virender Sehwag has done it twice.

Sehwag became the first Indian to post a triple century when he struck 309 against Pakistan in Multan in 2004.

Four years later, aged 29, he did it again - and he did it in style.

Records tumbled on day three of the first Test against South Africa in Chennai as Sehwag became the fastest man to hit 300 in a Test, reaching the milestone in 278 balls, some 77 fewer than the former record, held by Wally Hammond.

He also joined an illustrious group of players to have have passed 300 twice - only Brian Lara and the great Sir Donald Bradman had previously done that.

In the build-up to the game, Sehwag had been little more than an afterthought in some sections of the media, with the series billed as in-form South Africa paceman Dale Steyn versus the ‘fab four’ of Rahul Dravid, Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman.

Perhaps Sehwag, coming off 151 in his last Test innings against Australia in Adelaide, took umbrage at being overlooked.

Certainly he did not enjoy being overlooked by the selectors - he was dropped for the series against Bangladesh last year and was not considered for the squad to face England.

At the close of play on day three in Chennai he admitted the pain of that experience had spurred him on. It would be a brave selector who would consider dropping him now.

There will be a measure of satisfaction for Sehwag in achieving the feat ahead of Tendulkar.

Sehwag scored runs all round the wicket

Since he broke into the India team - he made his one-day debut back in 1999 - he has been compared to the ‘Little Master’.

And if he does remain forever in the shadow of his mentor - on whom he has openly admitted to modelling himself on as a youngster - he has proved twice over he more than merits his own place in Test history.

From the day he made century on Test debut against South Africa in 2001 - batting in tandem with Tendulkar, he has made himself at home in the India team.

He backed that up with 147 on his home debut against West Indies the following year.

His sixth century was a triple against Pakistan, against whom he racked up another couple of double tons in 2005 and 2006.

However, the runs dried up soon after and he faced a painful period on the sidelines.

Sehwag was a surprise choice for what proved to be a controversial tour of Australia this winter.

But with all eyes on an ugly race row and increasing bad blood between the two sides, Sehwag played himself quietly back into form.

And that paid dividends in Chennai where, on Saturday, he will need just one run to beat his own mark for the highest score by an Indian in Tests.

He may have bigger things in mind - Lara’s Test record 400 not out is in sight.