Virender Sehwag is catching up with Graeme Smith in the battle for the leading run scorer in Test cricket in 2008.

By Rajarshi Gupta

The dashing Indian opener has so far scored a staggering 1002 runs from eight matches at an average of 71.57 with three centuries and two half centuries. Along the way, he bludgeoned 319 runs in the first innings of the Chennai Test against the visiting Proteas earlier in the year. What has been most amazing is his strike rate, which rests at 85.42.

South Afrcan skipper Smith, who leads Sehwag in the pack by 177 runs has played three matches and four innings more than the Indian blaster.

The two in the top are followed by South Afrcians Neil McKenzie, Abraham de Villiers and Hashim Amla and Ashwell Prince, Englishmen Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Strauss and West Indian Shivnarian Chanderpaul. India's VVS Laxman just about squeezed in to the 10th spot, with 640 runs from nine matches.

Sehwag's run in the list has been the most inspiring, given that he was not even comsidered for a spot in the side last year. He made a stunning comeback in Australia, when in the dawn of 2008, he scored a blistering ton and followed it up with a triple ton and a double ton against Sri Lanka. He has not only scored them big but has also rattled them up so fast that the oppostion had little time to introspect what hit them.

With two more Test series (against Australia and England) for India to play this year, Sehwag may well cruise past Smith in a clash for the top spot that resembles the one between another set of South African and Indian in Jacques Kallis and Sourav Ganguly last year.

However, despite Viru's brutal form, India have not had a great year in the Test arena. While India lost a closely fought Test series Down Under, they managed to hang on to a draw against the South Africans at home and went down 2-1 to Sri Lanka. The middle order, with the firepower of Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly has not blazed to glory. Laxman may have just about hung in there but it is well nigh impossible for two men to steer a batting order against quality attacks.

All said and written, it is time to savour and cherish the champion in Sehwag and celebrate a man who slammed all odds to rise above the dust and be counted again.