NEW DELHI, India, CMC – West Indies batting legend Sir Vivian Richards has picked Indian stroke-maker Virender Sehwag over West Indies opener Chris Gayle, as the most devastating batsman in world cricket.
?I am an admirer of Virender Sehwag. He is the most destructive batsman in world cricket and India needs him badly,? said Sir Viv, when asked who among Gayle, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Adam Gilchrist was the most fearsome batsmen in the world.
?He is fearless when he comes out to bat and he has tremendous belief in his ability while facing a bowler.?
?The former West Indies captain, who never lost a Test series during his tenure, was speaking during a promotional event here for next year?s Cricket World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Sir Viv, perhaps the most feared batsmen of his time, said India?s chances in the CWC would depend heavily on Sehwag.
?He can be very intimidating and can provide magnificent starts to the team which will play a big role in India?s success in the World Cup,? said the 58-year-old, who plundered 8,540 runs from 121 Tests at an average of 50.
In the head-to-head match-up in ODIs, Gayle holds the edge over Sehwag. The big Jamaican left-hander has scored 7,885 runs in 220 matches at an average of 39.42 and a strike-rate of 83.77, and has hammered 19 centuries.
Sehwag, meanwhile, had garnered 7,380 runs from 228 matches at an average of 34.64, a strike-rate of 103.27, with 13 centuries under his belt.
In Tests, Gayle has an inferior record, having scored 6,373 runs from 91 Tests at an average of 41.65 with 13 centuries, while Sehwag has amassed 7,550 from 84 matches at an average of 54.71 with 22 hundreds.
