Virender Sehwag became one of the most aggressive and effective opening batsmen in cricket history. It was his aggressive style of batting, the manner in which he would dominate world-class attacks and natural talent which made him a popular cricketer. Apart from the follow-up writing on his batting, one question trends high among cricket enthusiasts: What was Virender Sehwag jersey number? Was it 44 or 68?

Fun Fact: The answer is not as straightforward as you might think. Sehwag’s jersey odyssey is a tale of superstition, beliefs – and cricketing identity that you will have a hard time finding anywhere else in Indian cricket.

Virender Sehwag – Profile Overview

Virender Sehwag Jersey Number: 44

Virender Sehwag in his early international career use to have a Jersey number before 44. This number was commonly linked with his aggressive mode and the exuberant dawn in world cricket. And anyone who followed Indian cricket in the 2000s is likely to remember Sehwag stepping out with the universally familiar ‘44’ on his back.

Only they never did, at least not until the age when superstition and numerology began to edge into his thought process. In popular cricket discussions, then miraculously 44 stopped being lucky or consistent enough for Sehwag. He said family members and friends advised him to change the number for more luck.

Thus, it was the turn of a chapter in the Sehwag’s jersey-number tale.

The Shift to 68 – A New Identity

And eventually, Sehwag started playing under a new number: 68. Many contemporary lists and databases consider him most closely linked with the number 68 so that it is now his presumed number.

For fans online looking up, the “Virender Sehwag jersey number 68” crops up commonly as the official recorded number on many a recently updated list of Indian cricket jersey nos.

The shift from 44 to 68 wasn’t just arbitrary – it was part of Sehwag finding a number that felt positive and balanced, both personally and numerologically.

Sehwag made 68 make-believe that world cricket was a place to be owned by him, thanks to greatest-ever knock in Test (triple century) and match-winning efforts in ODIs with fearlessness he brought to his game.

Why Sehwag Sometimes Played Without a Number

An interesting take from his jersey story would be – Sehwag, wearing a no-numbered jersey for sometime. It was an incredibly unusual thing in modern cricket.

At some phases – big tournaments included – Sehwag took pride in sporting a stark jersey with his name alone. This was a deeply personal number and something I didn’t want to simply choose without really listening to my gut.

Some of Sehwag’s historical scores coincidentally were the ones he achieved without wearing a number, further enhancing the reputation of his waywardness and legend.

What Do Fans Consider His “Real” Jersey Number?

Today, there are as many fans of Sehwag’s favorite figures - 44 and 68. Each number epitomizes different phases of his journey of cricket:

Number 44

• Early international years
• The transition where he became India’s firecracker opener

Number 68

• His later, and none the less mature, cricketing years
• His most famous number in updated cricketing records

Numberless Jersey

• The superstition-driven period
• An idiosyncratic personal preference that rounded him out.

This makes Sehwag’s jersey number story one of the most intriguing in Indian cricket.

Why Players Like Sehwag Change Jersey Numbers

Cricket, like most sports, is rife with superstition. Players switch their numbers for various reasons, including:

• Numerology
• Family advice
• Personal beliefs
• Desire for a fresh start
• Alignment with a lucky number

The movement between 44 and then to 68 – and sometimes no number at all – shows just how closely players associate who they are and what is on their back.

Sehwag’s Legacy Goes Far Beyond a Number

Despite all the excitement around Sehwag’s jersey numbers, one thing is clear – It would be impossible to express his contributions to Indian cricket in a number!

In number 44, 68 or no number, Sehwag stood for fearless cricket. He revolutionised how openers played the game inspired generations and gave us some of the greatest innings in cricket history.

Virender Sehwag’s Batting Career Stats

Virender Sehwag’s Bowling Career Stats