Captain Sehwag fit and raring to go
Virender Sehwag, who will lead India in the five-match one-day series against the West Indies in the absence of regular skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, placed belief in his young side to do well against the Caribbeans.
“We have a very good young side. It's good for youngsters that they are getting opportunities. They have five games to show their skills and if they perform well we can continue to field a young side. I promise that we will give our best efforts, and if we can put more than 100 percent then results will come automatically,” Sehwag said here on Monday on the eve of the first one-dayer.
This will also be the first time Sehwag will turn out in coloured clothing for India after the World Cup final on April 2. “I'm happy that I'm back in the one-day side. I am looking forward to this series. After the World Cup I had a shoulder surgery, and it took a little long to recover and there was also the rehab process. Now, that I'm fit, I'm ready to go,” he said.
Sehwag had three fifties in the recent Test series against Windies, but couldn’t notch up a big score. But the Delhi dasher wasn’t concerned about that. “I'm looking at it this way that at least I was lucky to get three fifties. There were others who scored hundreds for the team. I am happy about my performance,” he said.
Confirming that he will open the innings on the morrow, Sehwag said he has not decided on his partner at pole position. “We will have a meeting tonight, and will decide who will open with me. I am sure that I'm opening the batting. I would love to open with Gautam, but then we have to look our team combination as well,” he said.
Apart from Gautam Gambhir, this Indian squad has Parthiv Patel and Ajinkya Rahane who can open the innings.
Sehwag said more one-day matches should be held in smaller centres. “It's good to have (one-day) matches in smaller towns. If it's a packed house and playing in front of 40000-50000 capacity… It's a different ball-game altogether. We love to play in front of a big crowd.”
