It's official now: Virender Sehwag announces retirement from international cricket and IPL

Bengaluru, Oct 20: After speculations over his retirement last night (October 19), India opener Virender Sehwag today (October 20) announced that he is quitting international cricket and also the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Full statement of Sehwag; Had 'best seat' to watch Sehwag: Sachin

Sehwag, who celebrated his 37th birthday today, took to Twitter to announce that he is calling it a day from all forms of international cricket and also Twenty20 tournament - IPL. He last played for India in March 2013, in a Test against Australia in Hyderabad. (Sehwag's numbers)

"I hereby retire from all forms of international cricket and from the Indian Premier League. A statement will follow," he tweeted on Tuesday afternoon. (Tributes from Twitter)

"To paraphrase Mark Twain, the report of my retirement yesterday was exaggerated! However, I have always done what I felt was right and not what conformists thought to be right. God has been kind and I have done what I want to do - on the field and in my life and I had decided some time back that I will retire on my 37th birthday. (Sehwag was like Richards: Dhoni)

"So today, while I spend my day with my family, I hereby announce my retirement from all forms of international cricket and from the Indian Premier League," Sehwag said in a statement posted on his Twitter page.

Sehwag, who made his international debut in 1999, in a ODI against Pakistan in Mohali, bows out of top-level cricket having played 104 Tests, 251 ODIs and 19 T20Is. The 'Nawab of Najafgarh' scored more than 17,000 international runs with 38 hundreds (23 in Tests, 15 in ODIs).

Regarded as one of the greats of the game, Sehwag redefined batting. A fearless batsman, he had the attitude of see-the-ball-hit-the-ball. He was part of India's 2011 World Cup winning squad.

Before the start of the Ranji Trophy season this year, he left Delhi and moved to Haryana. He might still continue playing Ranji Trophy. Yesterday, he signed up for Masters Champions League (MCL) in Dubai, where only retired cricketers are allowed to play.

I hereby retire from all forms of international cricket and from the Indian Premier League. A statement will follow.

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 20, 2015

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