Exciting opener Virender Sehwag, the only Indian batsman to score a triple century in a Test, announced his retirement from international cricket.
"God has been kind and I have done what I wanted to do," Sehwag said in a statement on his 37th birthday after again being overlooked by selectors.
"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 teammates and the Indian cricket fans."
The right-handed batsman also confirmed he was retiring from the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Reports, however, said Sehwag would continue to play first-class cricket for his state side Haryana in the domestic Ranji Trophy 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 and VVS Laxman.
The Delhi-born batsman played the last of his 104 Tests against Australia in 2013 in Hyderabad, and many fans had hoped he would return to the national side with which he also won the 2011 50-over World Cup on home soil.
The opener scored 8586 runs at an average of 49.34, finishing with 23 centuries and 32 half-centuries.
He made 309 in 2004 on tour against Pakistan in Multan and followed that with 319 in 2008 against South Africa in Chennai, also scoring 254 in 2006 against Pakistan in Lahore.
Sehwag is one of only four players to score two triple centuries in Tests, along with Sir Donald Bradman, Brian Lara and Chris Gayle.
He holds the record for the fastest triple century in Test history and also the quickest 250.
Sehwag and Australia's Matthew Hayden are widely credited with transforming the role of an opening batsman in Test cricket with a hard-hitting, aggressive approach.
He also played 251 ODIs, scoring 8273 runs at an average of 35.05. At one stage, he held the record for the highest score in 50-over internationals after plundering 219 against the West Indies.
AFP