New Delhi: Till now it was just the cricket field where the two were compared. But the comparison will now extend off the field as well what with the swashbuckling Virender Sehwag signing up as brand ambassador for Adidas – who also happen to have Sachin Tendulkar in their ranks.

The company announced at a press conference on Friday that Sehwag will endorse its products – sports footwear, apparel and accessories - for a period of three years initially.

Sehwag, at hand to acknowledge the cheers, which reconfirmed his fast-growing celebrity status, said he was delighted to be associated with the sports goods company.

The company was quick to clarify that the earlier endorsement deal signed with Tendulkar in 1998 still stood and it was not replacing him with Sehwag.

"Tendulkar remains with us. We have a deal with Tendulkar till 2004," Tarun Kunzru, Managing Director, Adidas India Marketing Pvt Ltd, said. "We had the master with us. Now we also have the blaster," Kunzru said.

Sehwag hinted he may feature in advertisements with Tendulkar for Adidas. Though he may have already answered the question on how it feels to be compared to Tendulkar umpteen times, Sehwag obliged again saying, "I feel happy when people compare me to Sachin. But I think I have still quite a long way to go."

The other Indian sportspersons who are with Adidas include tennis stars Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi.

PTI