Gautam Gambhir's marathon, match-saving 137 in the second Test against New Zealand earned him rich accolades from stand-in skipper Virender
Sehwag likened the pugnacious left-hander to Rahul Dravid and dubbed him the "second wall" of Indian cricket.
Otherwise an aggressive batsman, Gambhir batted for nearly 11 hours over three days to bail India out after following-on.
Sehwag said Gambhir proved his game has improved and he is capable of saving matches like Dravid, who is known as 'The Wall' for his impregnable defence and patience.
"He (Gambhir) is developing his game. He curbed his aggression and is learning with experience. He has become the second wall of Indian cricket," Sehwag, who stood in for injured M S Dhoni in the match, said after India forced a draw.
"We didn't bat well in the first innings but we did well in the second, especially Gautam and (VVS) Laxman. Gautam batted for nearly 11 hours and saved the match," he added.
Sehwag admitted that his bowlers had to toil in New Zealand's first innings as the track did not assist them.
"It was a difficult job for the bowlers. The track was flat and except for some bounce, there was nothing in it. I told them to bowl in the right areas and see that the batsmen commit mistakes," he said.
Meanwhile, New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori was a "bit disappointed" at failing to win after "dominating for three days".
"It is hard work for us. You don't expect you will be there for three days in a row but it showed how dominant a position we were in. The bowlers bowled so well in the first innings and it gave us hope that we can do the job in the second," he said.
"We batted well in the first innings after being reduced to 23 for three and enforced a follow-on against a very good side. Almost all the plans we had before the match came through," Vettori added.
Asked about the track at McLean Park, Vettori said, "The pitch got easier and easier to bat on. You can play another Test match on this if you want to though you expect a Test match wicket to be offering assistance to bowlers and a bit of turn to the spinners.
"Whatever conditions we get [in the third Test] the performance here will give us lots of heart," he said.
