Virender Sehwag picks debut Test century over Multan 309 as his best
Synopsis
Virender Sehwag just reranked his own career highlights — and the world was wrong. While fans obsess over his 309 against Pakistan in Multan, Sehwag insists his real best innings was his debut Test century in 2001, scored when nobody believed he could be a Test cricketer. The admission came during promotions for his new reality show 'Rise & Fall'.
Key Takeaways
Virender Sehwag named his debut Test century against South Africa in November 2001 as his personal favourite innings, not the famous 309 in Multan .
He scored 105 off 173 balls on debut, alongside Sachin Tendulkar's 155 , as India posted 379 in the first innings.
Sehwag became only the 3rd Indian to score a Test century on debut, against a strong South African bowling line-up.
On the 'Multan ka Sultan' nickname, Sehwag said: 'whoever gave this title must be a media person.' His 309 in Multan 2004 included a 336-run partnership with Tendulkar; India won by an innings and 52 runs and Sehwag was Player of the Match .
Sehwag made the revelations while promoting his upcoming streaming reality show 'Rise & Fall' .
Former India opener Virender Sehwag has revealed that his personal favourite innings is not his legendary 309 against Pakistan in Multan in 2004 — the knock that earned him the nickname 'Multan ka Sultan' — but his debut Test century against South Africa in November 2001. Sehwag made the disclosure during promotions for his upcoming streaming reality show 'Rise & Fall' in Mumbai.
Why Sehwag Rates His Debut Above His Triple Century
'The triple century in Multan, 2004 is loved by many but if I talk about myself, my best innings was my first Test cricket,' Sehwag said. 'I played a lot of one day games earlier. Nobody thought I could be a test player. I got the opportunity, and I proved to everyone that I can be a Test cricketer.'
The sentiment speaks to something deeper than statistics — the debut century was proof of belonging in a format where Sehwag's place was genuinely in doubt before that match.
The Debut Innings: Scorecard and Context
In that November 2001 Test against South Africa, Sehwag struck 105 runs off 173 balls in the first innings, adding a crucial 336-run — wait, that partnership figure belongs to the Multan match — India posted 379 in the first innings, with Sehwag's 105 complementing Sachin Tendulkar's 155. Sehwag also contributed 31 runs off 36 balls in the second innings.
South Africa replied with 563 and then dismissed India for 237 in the second innings, winning the match by 9 wickets. Despite the result, Sehwag had made his mark — becoming only the 3rd Indian to score a Test century on debut, and doing so against a formidable South African bowling attack.
The Multan 309 and the 'Sultan' Title
When asked about the famous nickname 'Multan ka Sultan', Sehwag was characteristically candid: 'I don't know who gave this title. I don't know who gave this title but whoever gave this title must be a media person.'
The Multan Test of 2004 remains one of Indian cricket's most celebrated moments. Sehwag put on a 336-run third-wicket partnership with Sachin Tendulkar before being dismissed for 309 when India's total stood at 509 for 3. Tendulkar remained unbeaten on 194 when India declared. Pakistan managed 407 in their first innings and 216 in the second, handing India victory by an innings and 52 runs. Sehwag was named Player of the Match.
Sehwag's New Innings on Screen
The revelations came as part of promotions for 'Rise & Fall', a streaming reality show that Sehwag is set to host. The show marks a notable shift for the former opener into the entertainment space, where his straight-talking personality — very much on display during this conversation — is expected to be a key draw.
With Sehwag now stepping into a new role off the field, cricket fans will be watching whether his screen presence carries the same explosive quality as his batting once did.
Point of View
But by the moment they silenced doubt. The 2001 debut century came at a time when one-day specialists were routinely written off as Test liabilities; proving that orthodoxy wrong meant more to Sehwag than any subsequent milestone. What mainstream coverage of this story tends to miss is the structural point: Indian cricket in the early 2000s was still grappling with the idea that an attacking opener could survive Test cricket's attrition. Sehwag didn't just score runs that day — he redefined what an Indian Test opener could look like, a legacy that arguably matters more than the Multan triple century that fans and broadcasters prefer to celebrate.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Virender Sehwag's personal favourite innings?
Sehwag has named his debut Test century against South Africa in November 2001 as his personal favourite, rating it above his celebrated 309 against Pakistan in Multan in 2004. He scored 105 off 173 balls on that debut, becoming only the 3rd Indian to score a Test century on debut.
What happened in Sehwag's debut Test against South Africa in 2001?
Sehwag scored 105 off 173 balls in the first innings, batting alongside Sachin Tendulkar who made 155, as India posted 379. He added 31 off 36 balls in the second innings. South Africa won the match by 9 wickets but Sehwag had established himself as a genuine Test cricketer.
What were the details of Sehwag's 309 in the Multan Test of 2004?
Sehwag struck 309 and shared a 336-run third-wicket partnership with Sachin Tendulkar in the Multan Test against Pakistan in 2004. India declared at 509 for 3, with Tendulkar unbeaten on 194. India won by an innings and 52 runs and Sehwag was named Player of the Match.
Who gave Sehwag the nickname 'Multan ka Sultan'?
Sehwag himself says he does not know who coined the title, adding: 'whoever gave this title must be a media person.' The nickname emerged after his historic 309 in the Multan Test against Pakistan in 2004.
What is Virender Sehwag's new show 'Rise & Fall'?
'Rise & Fall' is an upcoming streaming reality show that Sehwag is set to host. He discussed his cricketing memories during promotional events for the show in Mumbai on 24 September 2026.
