‘I’m not half as good as Tendulkar --Sewag

He had once said in jest that the only difference between him and Sachin Tendulkar was in their wealth, but Virender Sehwag said today that, as a batsman, he could never be “half of what the maestro is.” He said he would be honoured if Tendulkar was viewed as his guru. “I," he said, "am his shishya (disciple).”
Asked how soon India would become the world's number one Test team and what he thought of the International Cricket Council's recent list of the game's all-time greats, he said: "If Australia lose to South Africa in an away series next month and we do well in New Zealand, it might cost the present world champions their top spot. I think India will be the world's consistently best team by 2010. As for the ICC list, all Team India members are disappointed at how low they have placed Sachin Tendulkar. I am nowhere near him. I grew up watching and idolising him; his style, his shots I always tried to copy."
Asked which of Tendulkar's attributes he wished he had himself, Sehwag said: "Everything. And it's not just his unique style of batting. It is also his humility, his entire persona. I really feel his records will never be broken. For somebody to do it, he would not only need the talent and longevity but also rare luck with injuries. And that still might not be enough! He started his career at 15-plus. Somebody would have to start at 14 years! The equations you need to have in your favour to get past his 83 international centuries, nearly 30,000 runs and all that he has achieved are an impossible act."
Told he was just as calm on the field as Tendulkar, he said: "At the core of it is a sort of philosophy which I have learnt from my parents. They have always emphasised: if somebody teases you, you reply with a smile or a laugh. That would irritate him."
He recalled some of his close encounters with Shoaib Akhtar, saying: "I remember him verbally attacking me during my triple century in Pakistan. He kept bowling bouncers and taunting me. He said: 'Hit them if you are that gutsy' and 'You can only hit in the third man area.' I said: 'Say that to my partner.' My partner was Tendulkar. I also said: 'How come I am getting runs from third man if you have a fielder there?' And when I hit him straight down the ground, I told him this wasn't a shot square off the wicket!"