Dravid defends Sehwag

Virender Sehwag's form remains a concern for captain Rahul Dravid © Getty Images

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India captain Rahul Dravid has urged the critics to lay off out-of-form opening batsman Virender Sehwag.

Sehwag’s performances continue to be a concern, following his dismissal for 28 against the Netherlands and a three-ball duck against hosts West Indies in his side’s two World Cup warm-up matches during the past week.

“I keep getting asked the question, ‘why are you supporting Sehwag?’,” Dravid said.

“In terms of supporting Sehwag, it’s not that I am supporting ‘Joe Bloggs’ or some Ramdin or Ramakdin or something.

“This is a kid that has got some pedigree in international cricket. I get these questions all the time about why I am supporting Sehwag, and I wonder is it ‘Joe Bloggs', or some old thing, that I am supporting?

“The guy has done well in international cricket and people just need to hang back a little bit and let him play some cricket.”

Dravid pleaded for Sehwag's critics to "hang back a little"

Sehwag has not scored a one-day international half-century since his 65 against Australia at the ICC Champions Trophy in Mohali last year.

His confidence has also been shaken following media reports that India’s chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar disclosed Sehwag only made the World Cup side because of Dravid's influence.

But Dravid believes that, if his side is to win the World Cup, they will need all of their players performing at their peak.

“That includes ‘Viru’ because we want whoever gets a chance to go out there to perform,” Dravid said.

“Whenever any player is not in form it is an issue to deal with. It could be Sehwag, it could be any of us, but that’s what a squad is all about.

“We have 15 players and you hope that someone else steps up to the plate and does the job for you.

“This is why we have spoken so much about believing that any 11 we put on the park should be able to win a match for India.

“This is what I truly believe, and I believe we have 15 players in the West Indies – irrespective of what their names are – that we can pick an 11 for India that can win against any team. I think this is the whole goal of what we are trying to do.”

India have been drawn with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Bermuda in Group B of the tournament, which will be played at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad.