"Thank God, I’ve quit cricket" - Wasim Akram

Tributes have flowed in from all corners. But considering the fact that one of the world's best bowlers thinks he is lucky to be miles away from Sehwag's marauding bat, is probably the ultimate accolade one can get. Always one for a fair fight on the field, former Pakistan captain and legendary pacer Wasim Akram said from Australia, Sehwag really was a joy to watch.

"Sehwag is one batsman that I would go to any lengths to watch. Thank God I've quit cricket! With Sehwag in this kind of mood, I really don't know what my fate would have been. But truth be told, he's not all slap-bang like, say, a Shahid Afridi. He handles every bowling line-up by attacking them, and even that attack is not all about slogs. They are proper cricketing shots. When any batsman does that, it's almost impossible for a bowler to bowl to him, especially in one-day cricket, because of the powerplays... that's where Sehwag is so lethal."

Akram, of course, has crossed Sehwag's path before. Most notably at the 2003 World Cup where Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar beat the lights out of Akram and Shoaib Akhtar at Centurion. Since then, the left-arm legend has turned into one of Sehwag's ardent admirers.