There's always a next time, says Sehwag

"I'm very happy I scored at least 293 runs. I think I made a record, by getting 290 after two triple centuries, which no one (other Indian) has done. It was a missed opportunity, but there will always be a next time," said Sehwag after the third day in the third and final Test at the Brabourne Stadium.

"My family was happy, they wanted me to cross 300 and 400 but they are still very happy. My son kissed me on the television," he said to the mirth of the reporters.

Sehwag, who batted for just over six hours and struck 40 fours and seven sixes, said he was mentally tired but physically still very fresh after remaining unbeaten on 284 after putting the visiting bowling to the sword last evening.

"I was not tired, mentally a bit, but not physically. Nitin Patel (team physio) and (masseur) Mane Kaka really helped me. They gave me a couple of things, gave me massage too and after that I felt really well. They are doing a fantastic job with the players," he said.

He also praised coach Gary Kirsten's tips during the first Test at Ahmedabad for making the big score.

"In Ahmedabad, I had a chat with Gary Kirsten. He advised me to survive the first half an hour to 40 minutes. He said to me -- if you stay on the wicket you will get big runs, you know that. I followed it and it worked for me," Sehwag said.

Sehwag, who was deceived by Muttiah Muralitharan this morning after the Sri Lanka ace was caned mercilessly yesterday by the Indian opener, said uncertainty in his mind led to his dismissal.

"There was no difference (in my outlook from yesterday). I tried to take my time, the ball was not there to hit, I tried to take a single but misjudged the length and it went straight to Muralitharan," he explained.

About Muralitharan, he said the veteran bowler can come up with an unplayable ball even when a batsman was well settled. "Batting against him is always a challenge. Even if he retires (and comes out to bowl) he will always be a challenge for the batsmen. As a batsman you can never relax against him even when you are 100 or 200 as he can come out with a magic ball out of nowhere."

Sehwag said he is happy to have done most of his scoring yesterday as it didn't seem to be his day today.

"Yesterday was my day. I batted full day. I utilised and made 284. If you are batting and in good form you spend a couple of hours in the wicket and score as many runs as you can on the same day. Tomorrow is a new day. It's a new ball game. Same thing happened to me. I was in brilliant form yesterday but this morning I came and got out after scoring only nine runs," he said.

Sehwag said he felt honoured to be compared with West Indian master blaster Vivian Richards. "To be compared with Viv Richards is a great honour for me," he said.

The Delhi right-hander was confident India can pull of a victory for a 2-0 series triumph, which will take them to the top of the ICC rankings over the next two days.

But Sehwag felt Indian bowlers will have to work hard to get the wickets as the track is a batting paradise. "Sri Lanka is a good team and will play better and carefully in the second innings as they know they have to save the Test match. They have to bat for two days. The wicket won't be so easy for them.

"Our bowlers have bowled them out for less than 400 in the first innings. Hopefully they will get them out in the second innings too, but they would need to work harder as you saw during the good partnership between (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni and (Pragyan) Ojha", he said.

He praised skipper Dhoni's hundred made in the company of last man Ojha which also helped India finish with an all-time record total of 726 for nine declared and gave the home team a massive lead of 333.

"It is one of the best 100s I have seen a wicket keeper or lower order batsman make. When Ojha went he (Dhoni) was on 50 or 60. He can keep hitting sixes and he capitalized on that," he said about the Indian skipper's farming of the strike beautifully to race to his hundred.