You are just back from, say, a six-month-long training programme in Amsterdam. You switch on the television midway through India's run chase today and allow yourself a smug smile. The total is nearing a hundred, Sourav Ganguly has just caressed a ball to the cover boundary, and at the non-striker's end, there is the reassuring presence of a short, stocky figure, standing cross-legged, with 74 to his name. In the next over, he unleashes one of those full-blooded on-drives you are accustomed to, the ball races to the fence and a fielder has hardly moved. Your eyes are now wide open, the jetlag is gone and you settle down to gorge yourself after forced starvation. Oh, how much you had missed this man.

But look again, the face under the helmet is not familiar. You glance at the scorecard and the name you is find is not Tendulkar but Virender Sehwag.

The physical resemblance between the two is startling and there has been a bit of Tendulkar in Sehwag's strokeplay. But until today, Sehwag has merely been a bully in domestic cricket, striking terror among unheralded Ranji bowlers on lifeless Indian wickets. Today, however, he played an innings of such authority and force that it's no exaggeration to say that it would have done the master proud.

Chasing the highest score of the tournament to reach the final, India needed a special performance and Sehwag, cast in the unfamiliar role of an opener, delivered in enthralling style, stroking the ball with panache and power.

Ganguly has played the supporting role to Tendulkar a few times in a century stand, but rarely in the recent past have we seen him reduced to a mere spectator like this afternoon. As India raced to hundred off only 82 balls, Ganguly's score was 20. There were no extras, so Sehwag had scored all of the other 80, displaying a range of strokes that were breathtaking and brutal.

He started with a cover-driven boundary off Kyle Mills and smashed him for 16 runs in his third over, all in boundaries. Dion Nash, who replaced Mills, went for 11 in his first over and India reached fifty in the ninth over.

After bringing up his half century in 29 balls, Sehwag turned his attention to Daryl Tuffy, the bowler who had caused much trouble to India in this tournament. Twenty-two came off his sixth over as Sehwag cut, drove, edged and pulled him four successive boundaries. The most emphatic stroke was reserved for the last ball though: a stunning driven six to a ball that was only marginally overpitched.

His hundred, off 70 balls, was the sixth-fastest in the history of one-day internationals and second-fastest by an Indian, behind Mohammad Azharuddin's 62-ball effort against New Zealand. For sheer value to his side, it was priceless.

Just a week ago, a distressed Ganguly had vented his ire against the young members of his side in public, berating their lack of commitment and character. He had good reason to be cross with players like Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh. He had championed their cause like a true believer, demanded that they be given time and latitude and fought with the selectors to retain them. But as the Indian batting slumped from average to abysmal, you could excuse Ganguly for his loss of faith.

Or was the public lashing intentional? A psychological masterstroke? If it was, the effect has been sensational. First Yuvraj and now Sehwag have responded in rousing manner. But the job is only half done. India have lost six one-day finals in a row. Ganguly would want the record to be put straight.

Sambit Bal is Wisden Online's India editor.

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