Virender Sehwag on Tuesday announced his retirement from international cricket and the Indian Premier League. Releasing a statement on Twitter, the batsman said he had decided "sometime back" to retire on October 20, his 37th birthday. In his two-page letter, he thanked his teammates, his captains, several cricket boards and all his fans for their support during his career. On Monday, Sehwag had denied reports that he had retired, saying he would make an announcement soon. He last played for India in March 2013.

Sehwag, known for his flamboyant batting style, is the country’s fifth-highest run scorer in Test matches and was part of the Indian teams that won both the 50-over and 20-over World Cups. He is the only Indian batsman to score a triple century in Tests and the second, after Sachin Tendulkar, to score a double century in One-Day Internationals.