“It hurt a lot when I was out of the team and the motivation helped me to concentrate for a long period in the searing heat,” the Delhi opener said after the third day’s play of the first cricket Test.

Sehwag missed a year of Test cricket after he was omitted from the side following the tour to South Africa in early 2007.

He returned to the side for the Perth Test against Australia in January and justified his recall with a century in the following Test in Adelaide.

“I had to prove that I belong at this level and wanted to get back my place in the side,” he said after remaining unbeaten on 309, equalling his own record he set against Pakistan in Multan in 2004.

Replying to a daunting South African score of 540 demanded total concentration but Sehwag was never kept quiet by the Proteas.

“I maintained my focus throughout my innings as we needed to get close to their total.

“Anil (Kumble) told me that I had to take responsibility but also play my shots as it was important to keep a good run rate,” he said.

He said the flat nature of the pitch at the M A Chidambaram Stadium aided his efforts.