It’s a good opportunity for the youngsters to step up: Sehwag

By Rahul Bajaj
for Cricketain.com

Published: December 24, 2009

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Kolkata: With Mahendra Singh Dhoni banned for two ODIs and Yuvraj Singh ruled out of the series after sustaining a finger injury, stand-in Indian skipper Virender Sehwag said that this is a good opportunity for the youngsters to step up and be counted and also a chance for India to test and improve its bench strength.

India will be entering the Eden Gardens, where the fourth ODI against Sri Lanka is to be played, without two key players in MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh. A win in this game would seal the series for the home team and Sehwag said that India will definitely miss the services of experienced campaigners like Dhoni and Yuvraj but at the same time this is very good opportunity for some younger players to prove their mettle.

“When the series is going on, the team has to play the matches, irrespective of who is in or out. Definitely, we will miss their services but we have to look at our other options. The youngsters are getting an opportunity to play for their country and if they do well and make a mark it’s good for the team as well. The bench strength will get stronger and stronger”, Sehwag said.

“With 2011 World Cup coming up, if players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma get opportunity to play and get runs, our bench strength improves,” he said, while especially pointing out Virat Kohli as a bright prospect. “He is truly a talented player. He had played very well in the Champions Trophy. Hopefully he will become a star of the future. We are all looking forward to him.”

India are leading the series 2-1 but they have a record of squandering advantageous positions. However, Sehwag said this time they are determined to not let the lead slip out of their hands. “We will try our best. It’s not always easy for bowlers to restrict a side under 240. But we will try to do that again,” Sehwag said, adding that they were yet to finalise the playing XI.

Meanwhile, the devastating form of Sri Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan is still a cause of concern for Sehwag. “It’s difficult to stop him. If we get him out early, it will be an advantage, as their middle order has not fired yet.”

With Eden Gardens being the home ground of former Indian skipper, Sourav Ganguly, whom Sehwag always pays gratitude to for making him an opener, the Delhi dasher said, “I would like to win here to give a gift to Ganguly.”

It’s a good opportunity for the youngsters to step up: Sehwag

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