He was someone who became a family. When you play with someone for so long, you really become very close to them and Viru was one who was very close to me.
It has been a real pleasure playing alongside Viru for so many years. For me, right from the first day I saw him, he came across as someone who was very special. Not only because he was talented but also because of the way he approached the game. He kept it very simple. His success was because of his uncluttered mind.
I felt he kept improving as his career progressed. His ability to play positive cricket along with getting big scores made him a match-winner. We were very fortunate as middle-order batsmen that we had an opener in Viru, who would demoralise the opposition bowlers right from the word go. He would never allow the opposition bowlers to get on top of him. Whenever he scored, invariably we would be in a commanding position.
He was someone who became a family. When you play with someone for so long, you really become very close to them and Viru was one who was very close to me.
Everyone talks about his triple hundreds and his double hundreds. But, for me two knocks that stand out, and will remain my favourite of Viru's knocks, are the hundreds he got in Adelaide in 2008 Test match and in Galle in the same year. In Adelaide (151 in 236 balls), he played unlike a Sehwag innings, occupying the crease and showing a lot of patience. In Galle, he scored a double hundred (201* in 231 balls) and carried his bat. Those two will be my favourites. (In Galle, Sehwag and Laxman, who made 39, shared 100 for the fifth wicket).
On that 2007-08 tour, Sehwag made the trip only because Anil (Kumble) as captain wanted him there. Even though he came and knew that he was not the first choice of the selectors, he always had that positive attitude. I always feel that Viru was very positive irrespective of the form he was in. That was his greatness.
Whenever we batted together, and I honestly don't remember having too many partnerships with him, standing at the other end, I was dumbfounded at the ease with which he would hit the opposition bowlers wherever he wanted to.
I always believe that the way one bats or plays on the cricket field reflects his personality off the field also. Viru was very similar. The way he was on the field – fearless, positive, don't-mess-with-me type of attitude – he was same off it too. It was lots of fun in his company. He is someone who is very honest and always says the fact. That's why I always really liked him.
After I got 281 (against Australia in Kolkata, 2001) and met him during the following ODI series, I remember in Pune, he came and told me to me that I missed the opportunity of getting a triple hundred for India. He also said that he would go on to get a triple hundred for India. This, he did it in Multan (309 against Pakistan in March 2004) and showed the bat to me when did that. He was so confident that he would get a triple hundred. That was his strength. He had a lot of self belief.
He is also a great animal lover. He loves his dog.
I wish him well in his future endeavour and also wish lots of good luck to his lovely family.
(Laxman and Sehwag played together in 89 Test matches in all the Test-playing countries from 2001 to 2012 and also in 59 ODIs from 2001 to 2006. Laxman spoke with G Krishnan)
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