Like father, like son? Aaryavir begins his own Sehwag story

For most young cricketers, scoring 297 runs in an innings would be reason enough to celebrate. For Aaryavir Sehwag, however, the knock came with a rather unusual reminder from his father. He had fallen just 23 runs short of Virender Sehwag’s highest Test score of 319, and, with it, a promised Ferrari.

The light-hearted exchange offered a glimpse into the relationship between the former India opener and his elder child. But beyond the family banter lies a young cricketer’s journey, one shaped by a famous surname, high expectations and the ambition to establish an identity of his own.

At 19, Aaryavir has progressed through Delhi’s junior cricket circuit, earned a place in India’s Under 19 team and taken up the captaincy of Delhi’s junior side. Comparisons with his father have followed, but his performances are beginning to give him a story beyond the Sehwag name.

From Delhi’s junior circuit to India colours

Aaryavir first attracted attention in November 2024, when he scored 297 off 309 balls against Meghalaya in the Cooch Behar Trophy, India’s premier Under 19 multi-day competition. The innings included 51 fours and three sixes, highlighting his ability to combine patience with attacking strokeplay.

The performance opened doors beyond age-group cricket. In 2025, Central Delhi Kings secured his services for Rs 8 lakh at the Delhi Premier League auction. He also made an impression against experienced players, striking consecutive boundaries off India pacer Navdeep Saini during his league debut.

His progress continued in 2026, when he was selected for India’s Under 19 squad for the Youth ODI series against Australia in Rajkot. He made his international age-group debut on September 18, scoring 28 off 26 balls, and finished the three-match series with 109 runs.

In October, he was named the captain of Delhi’s Under 19 team for the Vinoo Mankad Trophy. He marked the appointment with a 173 off 143 balls against Chandigarh, striking 19 fours and eight sixes.

Making his mark in India colours

His domestic performances paved the way for selection in India’s squad for the ACC Men’s Under 19 Asia Cup in Oman.

Aaryavir began with an unbeaten 70 off 52 balls against Nepal before producing his standout performance against the UAE on November 10. He struck 160 off 168 deliveries, including 17 fours and seven sixes, helping India reach the semifinals.

There was a personal promise behind the innings, too. Aaryavir later revealed that he had told his father he would score a big hundred before leaving the hotel for the match. The knock allowed him to keep his word.

He followed it up with 51 off 57 balls against Afghanistan in the semi-final on November 12. His 117-run opening partnership with skipper Lakshya Raichandani helped India chase down 228 and register an eight-wicket victory.

Despite being struck on the forearm by a delivery from Pakistan pacer Ali Raza during the U-19 Asia Cup final on Saturday, November 14, Aaryavir battled through the pain to score a fighting 58 off 61 balls, helping India build a crucial opening partnership in their successful 338-run chase.

With 303 runs in four innings at an average of 101, including a century and two half-centuries, Aaryavir emerged as one of the tournament’s standout performers. India are set to face Pakistan in the final on November 14.

A legacy, a surname and a new journey

The comparisons with Virender Sehwag are inevitable. One of India’s most destructive opening batters, Virender scored 17,253 international runs in 374 matches, including 23 Test centuries and two triple-centuries.

His 309 against Pakistan at Multan in 2004 and 319 against South Africa in 2008 remain defining moments of his career. His willingness to attack bowlers, even in the longest format, helped change perceptions of how an opening batter could approach Test cricket.

Aaryavir has shown glimpses of a similar approach. Delhi Under 19 coaches have also pointed to similarities in the batting technique and backfoot play of the father and son. Yet, carrying a celebrated cricketing surname brings its own expectations. The challenge will be to translate promising age-group performances into sustained success at higher levels.

The Ferrari, 319 runs and a father’s challenge

The Ferrari promise remains a reminder of their shared love for cricket. Following the 297-run innings, Virender took to social media to point out that Aaryavir had missed the car by 23 runs, with the challenge linked to surpassing his father’s highest Test score.

For now, the youngster has plenty of cricket ahead of him. His performances, leadership responsibilities and India Under 19 appearances have provided a promising start, but the road to senior international cricket remains demanding.

Virender Sehwag built his reputation by taking on the world’s finest bowlers without hesitation. Aaryavir may have inherited the surname, but the innings that define his career will have to be his own. The next chapter of the Sehwag story is taking shape, one innings at a time.