da betway： Virender Sehwag, standing in for Rahul Dravid, said the Indian teamwere viewing the last three matches of the ODI series against England as a separate contest and his aim was to win 2-0
da bet nacional： Anand Vasu in Guwahati08-Apr-2006
Virender Sehwag: ‘am definitely concerned about my form, but I am confident I can turn it around’ © AFP
Virender Sehwag, standing in for Rahul Dravid, said the Indian team were viewing the last three matches of the ODI series against England as a separate contest and his aim was to win 2-0. “We want to win this series as well, we want to win two of the next three matches. Rain permitting, we will play our best eleven, though we will also rest some players and give those who haven’t played a game yet a chance to show what they are capable of.”Commenting on his own form he said, “No-one is ever satisfied withhis form. Everyone is expecting a lot from me, and I know that I havenot lived up to expectations. I am hoping to do my best tomorrow andover the next two or three games. Captaincy is not a burden on me. Iam very clear in my mind, and I know that I have to perform. There isno specific problem as such. I feel it is just a mater of one innings.If I stay at the crease for an hour, I will make runs. In this series,I have got off to starts but I couldn’t convert them. But I am prettyconfident that it is just a matter of time.”When pointedly asked about his tendency to be dismissed by theincoming delivery he said, “Everyone has a problem with the incomingdelivery. If you are going through a bad patch, everything is againstyou. Before this series, I had never been dismissed off a shortdelivery bowled by a spinner — I have got out to short balls from thepacemen — but in the last game, I fell to a short ball from a spinner(Ian Blackwell). When things don’t go your way, that’s what happens. Iam definitely concerned about my form, but I am confident I can turnit around.”Sehwag also defended Mohammad Kaif, who has gone through a rougherpatch than the stand-in captain. “Hehas done well in the past, he has won matches for the country,” saidSehwag. “You can’t drop someone because he has failed in three or fourmatches when he has done well for the team on so many occasions. It isimportant to keep the winning combination intact, and you can’t ignorethe fact that Kaif is also a brilliant fielder. No player canperform in every match, not even Sachin Tendulkar who is the bestbatsman in the world. Kaif is going through a difficult time, whichhappens to every cricketer. He is working hard on his game with thecoach, he is too good a player not to start scoring runs quickly.”Sehwag also added that his mindset walking out to bat had not changedeither because of the captaincy or because of his lean trot. “Thecoach gives you confidence, he keeps telling you that you are a verygood player and that you have done well in the past,” he said. “Thatgives you confidence, it helps you maintain focus and stay positive.”Sehwag patiently addressed the media though the team had not come tothe ground for practice. Only Harbhajan Singh, along with JohnGloster, Ian Frazer and Greg King, from the Indian team, came to thevenue. The whole England team came to have a look at conditions butno-one addressed the normally customary pre-match press conference.
