4. Virender Sehwag:
One of the most attacking batsman the world has ever witnessed, Sehwag made his debut as a middle-order batsman. Although he started his test career on a superb note after scoring 105 off 173 balls – in a 220-run partnership with Sachin Tendulkar – outscoring his idol during certain periods of play, it was only after he was promoted to open the innings, he became a different batsman altogether. Earlier, he showed his potential as an opener after scoring his maiden ODI ton in only 69 balls against Sri Lanka as an opener.
With Ganguly’s injury in the India-England ODI Series in January 2002, Sehwag received another opportunity to open the innings. He justified the decision, with a magnificient innings of 82. After that there was no looking back as he went after the bowling match after match, and ended his ODI career with a strike rate above 100, and an average of 35.05, while in Tests, he scored at a brilliant average of 53 as opener, making his promotion possibly one of the best changes made in an Indian batting lineup.