The Scholes and Rooney show at Eden Gardens

If Virender Sehwag's allround dominance at Eden Gardens was reminiscent of Wayne Rooney, then Sachin Tendulkar's restrained brilliance had shades of Paul Scholes, so thinks Sumit Mukherjee, who likens the Indian pair's effort to the Manchester United duo, in the Times of India.

It was almost as if India were playing with a single striker like Manchester United do so often with Wayne Rooney these days. Sehwag, like Rooney, was having a blast when in walked Tendulkar to a standing ovation from the crowd. The Master Blaster quickly assessed the situation and his partner’s mood and slipped into a role that made Paul Scholes a legend at Old Trafford.

It is difficult to say whether Tendulkar, a self-confessed Manchester United fan, was inspired by Scholes’ exploits, but his craftsmanship en route to his 47th Test hundred bore an uncanny resemblance to the United talisman’s style of play. It was a wonderful exhibition of controlled aggression with a sublime touch.