Record-breaking Indian opener Sehwag retires..

Swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag, the only Indian batsman ever to score a triple century in Test match cricket, announced his international retirement on Tuesday.

More than two years after last appearing for his country, Sehwag accepted that there would be no emotional comeback as he became the latest member of India’s World Cup-winning team to call it a day.

“God has been kind and I have done what I wanted to do,” he said in a statement on his 37th birthday after again being overlooked by the selectors for the ongoing series against South Africa.

“Cricket has been my life and continues to be so. Playing for India was a memorable journey and I tried to make it more memorable for my team mates and the Indian cricket fans.” The right-handed batsman also confirmed he was retiring from the Indian Premier League, an annual Twenty20 tournament that takes place in April and May.

Reports however said Sehwag would continue to play first-class cricket for his state side Haryana in the domestic Ranji Tropy competition.

After making his debut against South Africa in 2001, Sehwag became one of the most feared batsmen in world cricket, forming part of a formidable line-up that also included Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly.

Sehwag is widely credited with transforming the role of opening batsman in Test cricket with a hard-hitting style that brought him a top score in Test matches of 319, against South Africa in Chennai in 2008.