Virender Sehwag turns 37, to retire from international cricket

New Delhi: Virender Sehwag turned 37 on Tuesday and in typical style took everyone by surprise at the Masters Champions League press conference in Dubai on the eve of his birthday.

What first appeared to be an official retirement announcement was later clarified by Viru himself.

However, it is clear that the explosive batsman will leave the game very soon.

As soon as news of Sehwag's impending retirement trickled in, fans paid glorious tributes to the batsman.

Though there is no official retirement yet, Viru's birthday presents them with another chance to reminisce about his glorious cricket career.

The cricketing fraternity took to social micro-blogging site Twitter to wish Sehwag on his birthday.

Happy Birthday, Virender Sehwag - the man whose batting is synonymous to joy. pic.twitter.com/QvAY3GDxii — BCCI (@BCCI) October 20, 2015

Happy Birthday to one of the game's great entertainers, @virendersehwag! https://t.co/mC3w9F6v4V pic.twitter.com/0QQkFHgpaX — ICC (@ICC) October 20, 2015

Happy birthday viru @virendersehwag God bless you. — Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) October 20, 2015

Happy birthday to India legend & 2014 MCC Champion County captain @virendersehwag pic.twitter.com/vuwSTtiwxg — Lord's Ground (@HomeOfCricket) October 20, 2015

From one opening batsman to another. @GraemeSmith49 talks about @virendersehwag. #HappyBirthdaySehwag https://t.co/A4AaPy9ctB — BCCI (@BCCI) October 20, 2015

In 251 ODIs, he accumulated 8273 runs at an average of 35.05 and scored 15 hundreds apart from hitting 38 fifties.

In 19 Twenty20 Internationals, he managed 394 runs with two half-centuries.

He has been a part of two World Cup winning teams under Mahendra Singh Dhoni's leadership --- 2007 World T20 in South Africa and the ICC Cricket World Cup in India.

(With Agency inputs)