Dravid backs opener Sehwag

Virender Sehwag has not been his usual destructive force

Rahul Dravid stood shoulder to shoulder with Virender Sehwag on Wednesday but may not do so as his opening partner in Cochin on Thursday.

Sehwag, 27, has been in such poor form in the past year that calls for his omission are increasing in this cricket-mad country.

However, Dravid reiterated his faith in one of the most destructive batsmen on the international circuit despite a wetting of the gunpowder.

Dravid went in first in Goa, where the hosts opened up a 3-0 lead over England, but may now revert to his more accustomed position of three with another dasher, Robin Uthappa, likely to get a chance alongside Sehwag.

“At the moment, we want to give him some more opportunities at the top of the order,” said Dravid.

“He is having a tough run of late. For us, it is critical to try to get him back into form and we will do whatever it takes.

“What he does for us when he fires at the top is very destructive, something he has done with a lot of success.”

Yuvraj Singh was hampered by a shin injury following his blistering hundred in the 49-run win on Monday but an MRI scan showed no serious damage and the left-hander is expected to feature in the match which could clinch the series.

“It will be nice to win it,” said Dravid. “But I do not think we will deviate too much from our plans.

“We will try to play the cricket which we played for the last three games. Hopefully the same things that have worked for us will work once again.”

The surface at the Nehru Stadium certainly promotes big scores with two of the four international matches to date resulting in totals in excess of 300 being posted.

If the evidence of the series so far and the ground history are to be believed, spin will once again be the most effective constrictor of runs.

Sachin Tendulkar has twice claimed five-wicket hauls here taking the pace off the ball while Dravid, hardly renowned as an off-spinner, claimed figures of two for 43 from nine overs in a win over South Africa.

Dravid has also discovered just how punishing the humidity can be as, after his hundred against Pakistan last time out, he needed a saline drip.

“It gets quite hot and humid here and that is quite a factor in us resting people rather than asking them to practice,” he said.

“You need a lot of mental strength and ability to cope with it on the day.”