Sehwag is my inspiration, says Yusuf Pathan

Speaking to MiD DAY after arriving in Mumbai yesterday, Pathan, who scored 105 in 70 balls and hit eight boundaries and sixes each during his knock at the Centurion, said while Tendulkar has been an inspiration, his daredevil approach at the crease has come from Sehwag. "The obvious answer to that isSachin Tendulkar, but the daredevil approach has come from Virender Sehwag," said Pathan.

Chasing a revised target of 268 in 46 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis method, India had collapsed to 60 for 5 when Pathan strode out to the middle at the Centurion, before soon slipping to 119 for 8. Pathan then took centre stage as he put the South African attack to the sword during his 100-run partnership with Zaheer Khan for the ninth wicket before he was dismissed. But Pathan's heroics were in vain as India lost the match by 33 runs and the series 2-3.

Pathan, who scored 166 runs at an average of 55.33 and strike rate of 134.95 in the three matches he played in the series, also told MiD DAY that he has always been inspired by Sehwag. "I was always inspired by the way Viru kept backing his own game despite people talking about the so-called shortcomings in his batting," he said.