Not Sachin, Dravid but Virender Sehwag picks this Pakistani as Asia's best middle-order batter

Ahead of many Indian legends, Virender Sehwag picked a Pakistani cricketer as the best middle-order Asian batsman.

Virender Sehwag is a highly esteemed figure in Indian cricket, known for his explosive batting skills. Throughout his career, he has scored an impressive tally of over 17,000 runs for the Indian team across all formats of the game. In his time representing India, Sehwag had the privilege of playing alongside cricketing legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, and numerous others. Throughout his career, Sehwag consistently expressed admiration for these players. However, in a recent interview, he expressed a contrasting perspective.

Sehwag reflects on his historic series in Pakistan

During an episode of the show "Breakfast with Champions," hosted by Gaurav Kapoor, Sehwag was questioned about the significant series he had in Pakistan. In 2004, India embarked on a tour of their neighboring nation, and this turned out to be a crucial turning point in Sehwag's career. It was during this tour that he achieved his first-ever Test triple century, marking a defining moment in his journey.

In the opening Test match held in Multan, Sehwag showcased his remarkable skills by scoring an impressive 309 runs. This particular series, under the leadership of Sourav Ganguly, resulted in India's triumph with a 2-1 victory. However, amidst the numerous talented players, one individual who captivated Sehwag's attention during the tour was the then-Pakistan captain, Inzamam Ul Haq.

Inzamam Ul Haq's Impact on Sehwag

Even though Sehwag and Sachin formed a formidable opening partnership with an exceptional record, the Delhi-born cricketer continues to hold deep admiration for the tall and skillful Pakistani player.

"Everyone talks about Sachin Tendulkar, but Inzamam-Ul-Haq is Asia's biggest middle-order batsman. See, Tendulkar was above the league of batsmen, so he doesn't count. But when it comes to the most superior middle-order batsman across India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, I have never seen anyone better than him (Inzi)," Sehwag said on the show.

Inzamam stands as a true legend in the game of cricket. Not only was he an outstanding batsman, but he also showcased excellent leadership skills as a captain. Throughout his tenure as Pakistan's captain from 2003 to 2007, the team emerged as a formidable force, with Inzamam boasting an impressive 58% win rate, second only to Wasim Akram. Inzamam's batting prowess was truly destructive, making him one of the most intimidating players of his time. Sehwag acknowledges that Inzamam was the first player who remained calm even when faced with challenging run-chases, displaying admirable composure.

"In that era - 2003-04 - he used to talk about scoring 8 runs an over. He would tell his partner, 'Don't worry. You'll score easily.' That means 80 runs in 10 overs. Other teams would panic, but he was always too confident," Sehwag added.