Sehwag has generously rated fellow opener Gautam Gambhir a better opener than himself and as the best Indian opener since Sunil Gavaskar. Evidently touched by Sehwag’s words, Gambhir returned the compliment fulsomely by saying that no one in Indian cricket was better than him (Sehwag).

“For him to say that I am better than him goes to show how big his heart is. Viru is the only cricketer I can always sacrifice my wicket for. I am his biggest fan,” Gambhir was quoted as having said in the cricket news. He also had words of praise for V V S Laxman and skipper M S Dhoni for their valuable advice and the feeling of security he got from them.

Another player who is happy with his own and his team’s performance in New Zealand is VVS Laxman, who was quoted in the cricket news as being highly satisfied with the tour. “It gives me immense pleasure when I perform consistently at the highest level, especially overseas. I take great pride in my overseas record and my performance in New Zealand, which included a match-saving century in the second Test. It was an extension of my record abroad,” Laxman said.

It has been everyone’s case that this win has been a tremendous team effort in the face of difficult conditions and this view was echoed by the stylish Laxman, “It was a fantastic team effort and almost everyone chipped in with useful contributions when the team desperately needed them. The conditions were definitely difficult, being very windy. But the fact that we were the better team on the given day was an indication of our capability to adapt better,” he said.

It seems that the Indian dressing room is a highly appreciative one right now; with the players exchanging glowing complements and some flattering complements coming coach Gary Kirsten’s way as well. Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar has credited Kirsten with India’s success.

According to Tendulkar, the coach is letting the players play their natural game and has created an environment that is conducive to such a feeling. "That can only happen if the atmosphere is good and the mind is free of any kind of pressure. It’s the case of natural instincts taking over and that can be credited to Gary (Kirsten). The team environment is allowing players to play their natural game. That's probably the secret," Tendulkar said.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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