Sir Vivian Richards Exclusive: The second Test between India and the West Indies is underway at Delhi’s iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium, with Day 2 wrapping up on October 11. Team India continued its stronghold in the match, dominating proceedings on the second day as well.
Cricketing legends Sir Vivian Richards and Brian Lara were present in the stands and thoroughly enjoyed the action. During the match, Richards had a conversation with Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) Director Shyam Sharma about Indian cricket – a discussion Sharma later shared in an interview with News24.
Viv Richards said "Virender Sehwag was as par with me". [Shyam Sharma] pic.twitter.com/UeI7jAYziC
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 11, 2025
Vivian Richards: “Sehwag Revived Test Cricket”
Richards heaped praise on former Indian opener Virender Sehwag, claiming that Sehwag brought Test cricket back to life. “When I watched Sehwag bat, I saw a reflection of myself. I found him even more dangerous than Shahid Afridi and Adam Gilchrist,” said Richards.
He revealed that he used to wake up at 3 a.m. just to watch Sehwag bat, calling him a game-changer. “Test cricket was fading, but Sehwag revived the format. The kind of excitement he brought to the game is one of the reasons 15,000 to 20,000 fans are turning up even today to watch a weakened West Indies team — that’s Sehwag’s legacy,” he added.
Richards on Shubman Gill and India’s Dominance
Richards also praised India’s new Test captain, Shubman Gill. “The way Shubman has performed over the last 4–5 years, I always knew he would excel in all three formats. He has a bright future,” he said.
Commenting on India’s bench strength, Richards remarked, “This Indian team is so dominant, they could field two international-level sides.”
He also mentioned rising stars like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan, calling them “high-quality players.” Richards expressed surprise that Jaiswal hasn’t found a consistent spot in India’s T20 side yet, citing intense competition.
Among bowlers, Richards applauded Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy, calling Kuldeep Yadav “the best spinner in the world right now.”
Shyam Sharma on Rohit and Virat’s Future
With speculation building around whether Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will feature in the 2027 ODI World Cup, DDCA Director Shyam Sharma addressed the matter. Speaking to News24, he said:
“As long as a player is performing, age shouldn’t be a factor. Rohit and Virat are in great shape. We need experienced players like them. They should absolutely play if they continue to deliver.”
Century Incoming on Day 3?
Cricketing legends Vivian Richards and Brian Lara believe that a West Indies batter will score a century on Day 3 of the Test. Both icons also expect the match to stretch into Day 5.
Whether their prediction proves true remains to be seen – but fans are certainly in for an exciting finish.
