Virender Sehwag's batting has been criticized, torn apart by the so-called experts and loved by the masses. But nothing anyone says can make him change the way he bats.
There is a purely animal feel to his batting. The ball, he believes, is there to be hit.
As he hammered 95 runs against Pakistan in a session-and-a-half on day 2 of the first Test at Mohali on Wednesday, one could not help but wonder where this Indian team would be without the dashing Delhi batsman.
His attitude on the field is reflected in the way he takes a press conference. His answers come hard and fast.
Asked what was going through his mind as the entire morning was washed out due to rain, he shot back: "I was enjoying in the dressing room," his tone suggesting he meant to say what else was I supposed to do.
Without Shoaib Akhtar the Pakistan bowling attack lacked bite and the Indian batsmen made merry.
"It was a good wicket. The ball started to seam towards the end. The Pakistani bowlers bowled well but they did not put the ball in the right spot and were punished accordingly," said Sehwag.
Did the rain bring back memories of Australia's last tour of India? The Chennai Test was abandoned on the final day due to rain and the visitors won the series 2-1.
"The Chennai Test against Australia was abandoned due to rain and we want to ensure that something like that doesn't happen again. We want to make sure rain doesn't rob us of victory. If conditions do remain the same (heavy cloud cover) then we will look to score as quickly as possible."
Sehwag ended the day just five short of a hundred. There are many batsmen who would spend a nervous night wondering whether they would get the coveted figure or not. But not Sehwag, who completed a triple century [against Pakistan in the first Test last year at Multan], scoring a six.
"I am not looking to get just five runs more. I am looking to bat all day tomorrow. And if that happens I know I will score runs at a quick rate. In the Melbourne Test against Australia, I got out for 195 late in the day and after that India struggled. I'll look to ensure that it doesn't happen again."
The first-wicket partnership between Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir was worth 113 and it was the second time in recent matches that the duo put on a hundred-run stand.
"I have had many century partnerships with Sanjay Bangar and Aakash Chopra as well and it would be wrong to say that the opening position is now settled. But I think I should say that Gambhir needs to prove himself at this level."
With the weather likely to play truant, one wonders what are India's plans for day 3? How many runs will they be looking to get?
"The plan for tomorrow is simple. Weather permitting, we look to bat 5-6 sessions. There is no specific total in mind. If we bat that long we will be in a position to dominate," Sehwag said.
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