Virender Sehwag, arguably the modern era's most unorthodox and audacious batsman, has credited Sunil Gavaskar, one of the most composed and technically correct batsmen ever, for opening up more methods to attack.

"Once Sunil Gavaskar asked me look to take middle-or-off-stump guard. And I think it has suited me," he told PTI. "With a leg-stump guard, you could be chasing a wide delivery. Or leaving a gap. With a middle-and-off stump guard, the bowler doesn't know where to pitch his stuff.

"If it is on [the] stumps, you could whip it to [the] onside. If it is outside the off stump, he is allowing you to play your favourite shots. I always take a middle-stump guard." if In 2008, Sehwag scored 1462 runs (of which 856 were in fours and sixes) in 1703 balls for a strike rate of 85.84.