Sport | Cricket
Sehwag gets into India's World Cup squad
In a surprise move, India's cricket selectors picked Virender Sehwag for India's World Cup squad despite a poor perfromance in the run-up to the showpiece event.
- Agencies
- Published: 23:36 May 3, 2009
- Indian skipper Rahul Dravid (left) with the Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Niranjan Shah (centre) and the chairman of selectors, Dilip Vengsarkar after the announcement of the 15-member Indian squad for the World Cup.
- Image Credit: AP
Mumbai: In a surprise move, India's cricket selectors yesterday picked Virender Sehwag for India's World Cup squad despite a poor perfromance in the run-up to the showpiece event.
Sehwag, 28, was selected despite scoring just 273 in his last 15 one-dayers, including an unimpressive 19 off 23 balls in the five-run defeat against Sri Lanka on Sunday.
Others picked for the 15-man squad included Seamer Irfan Pathan and batsman Yuvraj Singh – both suffering injuries but said they were confident they will recover in time for the World Cup opening in the Caribbean on March 13.
Yuvraj (back injury) and Pathan (sore shoulder) were picked after team physiotherapist John Gloster said he was confident both would be fit before the team departed for the Caribbean on February 28.
Rahul Dravid, who will captain India and who is a veteran of two World Cups said "I am quite excited about the team but we are aware and believe that it is not about the team, but how it performs. How six or seven key players perform supported by the others in the team, that will be the focus.''
Defending the choice of Sehwag, Dravid said, "It is a show of faith by the selectors in Sehwag, the ball is in his court now. He has to prove the faith the selectors have shown in him is justified. "It is a challenge for him to go out and deliver. The onus is on him, as it is on the rest of the players who have been picked, to perform the way he has in the past."
Senior pro Sachin Tendulkar, set for his fifth World Cup, was appointed the deputy, ahead of former skipper Sourav Ganguly.
Six players - Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthick, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and Munaf Patel - will be playing in their first World Cup.
But the remaining nine - Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Sehwag, Yuvraj, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan - were part of the 2003 squad in South Africa that made the final.
"Many guys in the team realise that it is their last shot at the World Cup," said Dravid. "These guys in particular would be keen to stand up and be counted."
India are drawn with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and first-timers Bermuda in group B of the event.
Have your say
Do you think this is the best possible combination? Who else would you have picked? Tell us at letter2editor@gulfnews.com or fill in the form below to send your comments.
Your comments
Good team but I don't understand how many more chance will be given to Shehwag. Despite poor form, they picked him where there was no place for Kaif.
Arz
Dubai,UAE
I am sure Sehwag will do well in the World Cup. Selectors have learnt a lession from what they have done with Ganguly, experience always counts.
Sanjay
Dubai,UAE
I think the selectors should have selected Raina and Kaif because they are good fielders and Indian fielding is not at its best.
Priya
Dubai,UAE
Selectors you will repent for life for not including Mohammed Kaif. As a sportsman I respect your decesion, but I'm sure India will pay a heavy price.
Iqbal
Toronto,Canada
When selectors have selected Sehwag by seeing his past performance, then I should say that Kaif would have also selected on his past records. What is the use of taking five pacers? Instead they would have selected kaif an extra batsman.
Mustafa
Hyderabad,India
Mohammed Kaif should have been picked. He adds strength in the middle order. How can India can drop him when he has batted so well when ever India are in trouble. It seems to be a good team. We hope that India wins the World Cup.
Sameer
Dubai,UAE
As the experience is given importance in case of Sehwag, then why dont Kaif is tread as well. Why he is ignored..!! What kind of selection it is ..?
Syed
Dubai,UAE
I am happy with the combination, although I would have loved to see a more specialist middle order batsman.
Khuzema
Dubai,UAE
Mohd. Kaif should have been included.
Sandeep
Mumbai,India
I think selectors have made the best decision in choosing Sehwag because he can really make things happen with his bat.
Iggy
Abu Dhabi,UAE
The selectors have done their best and have given a chance to deserving players. But one important guy was left out: Mohd. Kaif, who is a classic batsman.
Sharief
Abu Dhabi,UAE
I wounder why the selectors didn't have the same so-called faith in Kaif? He would have made at least 20-30 runs per match.
Ved
Dubai,UAE
It is better to drop all the senior players and give a chance to new players so that we are sure to win the World Cup.
Mini
Dubai,UAE
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