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I see shades of myself in Sehwag: Tendulkar

Faisal Shariff in Colombo

"He is someone with a special gift. I enjoy watching him all the time," Sachin Tendulkar told rediff.com about Virender Sehwag.

"He has plenty of time to play his shots. He has got tremendous body balance and he has got a terrific mind. He does not let negative thoughts affect him. He thinks positively and that is the most important thing if you are a youngster. If you watch the swing of his bat, that tells you he is out there to take you on."

The Delhi batsman has been compared to Tendulkar; Sehwag has on several occasions accepted that he looks to copy his role model.

If he could become half as good as Tendulkar, Sehwag told this correspondent, he would be a happy man.

When Tendulkar was asked about the comparison, he said, "There are shades of my batting in his style. Our shots do look similar."

"I think he has done an extremely fantastic job so far and it is important he continues in the same fashion," Tendulkar said. "The expectations are high since he has done well in a rather special manner so all I can say is we should let him relax rather than put pressure on him."

In his interview to rediff.com Sehwag mentioned that coach John Wright told him Tendulkar had sacrificed his opener's position for him.

"He told me not to disappoint Sachin because when he was at the top spot he would get a hundred every third or fourth match. I think that is what hit me the most," Sehwag said.

Tendulkar, the quintessential team man, said he was prepared to bat at whatever position the team wanted him to.

"As long as it contributes towards the success of the team I am happy. It is a learning for me to adapt to number four. I will have to play a completely different role. So far it has clicked and I hope it continues."

"It is good Sehwag is determined to score runs. He has got the right spot to score runs. We have found the right player who can play some big shots and scare the opposition."

One member of the Indian team summed it up thus: "Sachin might be the greatest, but Sehwag is the latest."

OTHER INTERVIEWS FROM COLOMBO:
'We need to bowl better:' John Wright
'My job is to win games for India:' Mohammad Kaif
'All it takes is one delivery to turn things around:' Glen McGrath
'My time to captain Zimbabwe has passed:' Andy Flower
'It's just not in the ICC's interest to undermine India:' Speed
'Batting is very important for me:' Shane Warne
'It's the worst injury I've had in my life:' Brian Lara
'I will be happy with 600 wickets:' Muthiah Muralitharan