The strip of paper that is Shewag's inspiration

Staff Reporter

August 4, 2001

The celebrations are over as far as Virendra Shewag is concerned. He is already trying to concentrate for the next match ahead. But a small yellow strip of paper is now his constant companion. The paper has a message of congratulations from Sachin Tendulkar.

Immediately after India's win on Thursday, Tendulkar had called up the Taj Samudra hotel in Sri Lanka. However, at that time, the Indian team had not come back to the hotel. So the master blaster had asked the receptionist to note down the message. It read: "Great Innings. Congratulations. I hope that you will not disappoint me in the final." It is this piece of paper that was delivered to Shewag on his arrival and has now become his inspiration for the next match

"I am in a dream world right now," said Shewag. "I cannot believe that the great Sachin Tendulkar congratulated me. Sourav is telling the entire world to take notice of me and Rahul Dravid is always there with advice whenever I need it. To tell you frankly, it is like a dream for me. When I used to watch all these people play, I used to think whether I would be able to play like them. And today, I am sharing the same dressing room with them. I just want this dream to continue," said Shewag over the phone on Friday.

Immediately after his return to the hotel on Thursday, Shewag had treated the entire team to a huge cake. There can be no doubt that room mate Yuvraj Singh had the largest share.

Shewag does not feel that this innings will become a source of constant pressure for him. "I know that expectations will rise. But then, playing for the country is pressure itself," he said over the phone.

Meanwhile, Shewag's younger brother Vinod, said on Friday that initially he was a bit doubtful about India's victory. "But once Veeru (Shewag's nickname) started going, I realized that it was going to be his day." Virendra's younger brother is more into academics. However, at every opportunity, Vinod sits down in front of the television to see his brother in action. "He never lost heart after injury forced him out of the team from the one-day home series against Australia." Commenting on that period, Vinod said, "He was just determined to get better. And in this he has succeeded."

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Players/Umpires

Virender Sehwag

Series/Tournaments

Coca-Cola Cup (Sri Lanka)

Teams

India

Sri Lanka