andhracafeNew Delhi, March 3 India's chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar has disclosed that Virender Sehwag was picked for the upcoming cricket World Cup on captain Rahul Dravid's insistence.
Asked in a television interview whether Dravid wanted an out-of-form Sehwag, Vengsarkar said: 'Definitely, yes.'
When asked, had Dravid not demanded Sehwag would the swashbuckling opener have been dropped, the former India captain said: 'Definitely, I agree with you. He (Dravid) made the difference.'
The interview, conducted by Karan Thapar for 'Devil's Advocate' programme, will be telecast on CNN-IBN Sunday night.
Before leaving for the West Indies, Sehwag gave hints of getting back into form as he scored 46 in the fourth and final one-day international against Sri Lanka at Visakhapatnam. He also spent long hours at the nets in Delhi polishing his batting.
Vengsarkar said he would always back the captain as he should get the team of his choice.
After the team selection, Dravid, when asked at a press conference, had not entirely denied that he did not want Sehwag, India's only triple centurion in Test cricket.
Giving his reasons and his own example, Vengsarkar said during the interview that when he was the India captain in 1989 he never got some of the players he was keen on.
'...when I was captain, they (selectors) never gave me players on whom I was keen. It was always 3-2 in selection committee meetings. I didn't want Rahul to go through the same thing. That is why I backed Sehwag, on whom Rahul insisted that he should be there,' he said.
'It is a bit of a gamble, definitely, but in cricket you have to take these gambles.'
Describing Sehwag as a match winner, Vengsarkar said that the Delhi player has 'done exceedingly well in the past'.
On India's prospects in the World Cup, starting in the West Indies March 11, Vengsarkar was optimistic.
'If they go till the last four (semi-finals), it could be anybody's cup. All eight sides in the fray are good sides. If India does not enter semi-finals, of course, I will be very, very disappointed,' he said.
'They have the ability. They have to believe in themselves that they are the best team in the world. And they ARE the best in the world.'
Talking about team coach Greg Chappell's role, the Mumbai-based Vengsarkar said that his 'inputs are quite important' for the team's success in the 16-nation World Cup.
'I hope he remains with the team beyond the World Cup,' he said, adding that the board would have the final word whether to extend the former Australia captain's contract or not.
India are placed in Group B and play their opening match against Bangladesh March 17. Sri Lanka and qualifiers Bermuda are the other teams in the pool.
The final will be played April 28.
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