Betfair | Sehwag recalled for Indian middle order role

Sehwag recalled for Indian middle order role

3 February 2007 | About Editor |

India have outlined a new role for Virender Sehwag after recalling the struggling batsman for their final World Cup warm-up series against Sri Lanka.

The 28-year-old was axed for the recent one-day series against West Indies after a poor run with the bat on India's last tour to South Africa.

And chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar believes the break has done Sehwag the power of good as he prepares to return in a middle-order role for the four-match series against Sri Lanka, which gets underway in Kolkata on Thursday.

Vengsarkar said: "He was out of form and needed a break, now he's back.
"We'd want Sehwag to bat in the middle order in the next couple of matches, but he's not ruled out as an opener for the future."

Although his last one-day century was almost two years ago, Sehwag's reputation as one of the most destructive batsmen in world cricket has been established by his record of 4,750 runs in limited overs internationals, including seven centuries and 24 fifties.

But in South Africa, he only managed 29 runs in three games and fared little better in the Test series which followed, averaging only 14.83.
Sehwag went back to the drawing board with his personal batting coach AN Sharma to try and iron out the flaws in his game.

"I suggested to him to watch his old footage so that he does not repeat his mistakes," Sharma told the Press Trust of India.
"In South Africa, he was getting out while trying to slice the ball but now he has stopped playing that way.

"I also advised Sehwag that he should not forget playing his natural game under the pressure to score runs."

Fast bowler Munaf Patel also returns in a 15-man squad - named for the first two games against Sri Lanka.
Batsmen Gautham Gambhir and Suresh Raina have been left out, along with off-spinner Ramesh Powar

India are 10.5 to win the World Cup, which gets underway in the West Indies in March, while Sri Lanka have recently attracted support at 11.
Keep an eye out for Series and Match betting markets for the India v Sri Lanka series next week.

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