Sehwag's last competitive outing was on January 10, when, having returned from a forgettable trip to South Africa, he cracked a finely-paced 106, from the middle order, against Haryana at Rohtak. Two days later he was dropped from the Indian team - the only other time he was axed was since his miserable ODI debut against Pakistan at Mohali. Dileep Vengsarkar, the chairman of selectors, hoped he would "go back to the nets and sort out his cricket, his batting basically".

Nobody can argue with that. Since the start of this season he's averaged 14.8 in ten matches, with just one fifty. He's gone through lean patches in the past - some may even argue that he's hardly attained any consistency in one-dayers - but the phase that comes closest is probably early in his career in 2001. He averaged 11.4 in eight innings before bouncing back with a mind-blowing century against New Zealand in Colombo. This time there was no such innings, just a forced break instead.

So what's he done over the last few weeks? He's gone back, lost weight, grown a French beard, returned to the Government Boys Senior Secondary School at Vikas Puri, studying videos of his dismissals with AN Sharma, his long-time coach

So what's he done over the last few weeks? He's gone back, lost weight, grown a French beard, returned to the Government Boys Senior Secondary School at Vikas Puri - his alma mater - and gone back to Batting 101, studying videos of his dismissals with AN Sharma, his long-time coach.

Sharma points out the two major focus areas: analysing his dismissals and trying to bat long periods. "We asked him to see his videos - how he's been getting out recently", Sharma told Cricinfo. "The aim was to find out what he wasn't doing correctly."

After seeing the videos, Sehwag would have a turn with the bat and Sharma would try and ensure the mistakes weren't repeated.

For example, in South Africa he was regularly getting out by slashing over the slips to third man - the prime example being in the third ODI at Cape Town, when he was out for a duck, caught by Andrew Hall in the deep off Shaun Pollock, in the very first over. " We worked on that.
"Secondly we worked on his focus. We gave him a challenge - in 60 minutes of batting, even though it was only against amateur bowlers, don't get out at any cost. He had to stay at the wicket and play his natural game without getting out even once."

But wouldn't it have helped Sehwag if he'd more time in the middle? Vijay Dahiya, the former Indian wicketkeeper and a close friend of Sehwag's, doesn't think so. "He's got a much-needed break," says Dahiya. "While playing constantly you don't realise what's going wrong with your game. He's had a chance to think about it. I've met him in this period and chatted with him.

"It's tough to gauge Veeru's confidence levels by talking to him - he's the same irrespective of what - but he likes to have long talks with his close friend. He keeps asking you questions - 'What's happening, what are you noticing, what am I doing wrong etc'. I think it's helped."

The selectors won't get to see much of Sehwag before they sit down to pick the World Cup squad. Maybe two games against Sri Lanka - if he's picked - or it will have to be just one Ranji ODI. They'll either have to go by past record - he was India's highest run-scorer in the ODIs in West Indies last year - potentially explosive quality, and allround value or decide to take the drastic step of leaving him behind. The first is almost a given, the second almost unthinkable. Almost.

Could it be....that Sehwag's game is perhaps too risky to be brought out against good fielding sides..the kind that don't led slashes over point and slip drop. Perhaps teams like pakistan,horrible fielding side, are more suited to his game..for all other teams like south africa, australia, he should perhaps focus on playing down the ground and not behind point..?

The selectors HAVE to try him out in the ODI's against SL. He is crucial to India's plan of playing 4 bowlers. He and Sachin can easily bowl 10-15 overs and possibly along with YV bowl nearly 20 overs.

The middle order, is a big problem. We have 5 openers, good enough to play at the WC and just 1 one middle order batsmen set (Rahul), and hopefully YV as well. Maybe Sehwag can get a chance down the order ....

Hi Siddharth,
I like your attempt to deconstruct Virender Sehwag. But do you believe that going back to the nets at Vikaspuri would help Sehwag comeback to the Indian team? The moot question: If it were just about watching videos and analysing, did Greg Chappell not have the time to do that with Sehwag? Has anyone worked on giving the Nawab of Najafgarh the confidence that he really needs?
Keep writing.
Raj

This lean patch happens with everyone but we cannot drop a player of Sehwag's Calibre. He need just one innings like saurav to bounce back hard rather than making him wait without games. So he has to play the 4 matches against Sri lanka and have atleast 2 good scores to gain his confidence. Then he can do wonders in Carribean. Remember his fastest century in West Indies that too in a test match. So the selectors has to believe his worthiness

It is necessary that when a player is not in form other one should be given chance but at the same time it is also necessary that the past record of the player who is dropped should be considered.
In case of V.Sehwag break is necessary but looking at his record in W.Indies in recent past he should be in World Cup Team.
I hope he will Come up with flying Colours.

Sehwag remains to be an enigma in ODI field. His critics had questioned his success in Tests and said he would be more suitable for shorter version, but his record over the years suggest he is more succesful in the longer version of the game. Its baffling to see him fail in ODIs owing to similar kind of shots this days....He is one kind of player every team would like to have in it, as he s a player to turn the tide on his own. But the current tactics from management baffles the fans, we have 3 world class openers in Sachin, Sehwag and Saurav and yet we are gunning for 2 new openers in Uthappas and Gambhirs, who might play on any given day and shine, but then you need to show the consistemcy over longer period...If Uthappa s 70 (41) seals his place in WC squad ahead of Sehwag it would be grave injustice to once the future captain of India.....The best way to judge Sehwag is not give him limited chances in SL series but persist with him in the World Cup and if he fails in that then it would provide an ideal platform for selectors to shunt him out of the team, may be for long long time.....

I think we all know what our beloved Viru is capable of. The only problem is how he channelisse all that talent into the cricket field.

The Indian selectors have to take him to West Indies. They just have to. It's been said many times, but it's true, Sehwag's ability to turn a match around is second to none. What the selectors should do is not include him into the side automatically, play him in the warm-up games, against the weaker sides etc. Let him get his confidence back. He shouldn't ever be an automatic selction. The captain and the coach should check the pitch, conditions and then decide whether to include him or not. If the weather is overcast, play an extra pace bowler. But if the pitch is slow and favours turn, play Sehwag. His bowling will be very useful on those type of pitches.

With Viru, it was fitness that was found lacking, apart from the obvious. He's got to work on becoming lean and mean in attitude. He's got the awesome game, he's just got to show the hunger now. We all know one way or the other, he'll make it to the Indian team fairly quickly if he scores big and real big a few times. He's got to get mentally and physically fitter now, that's it.

By the way, that kid Robin Uthappa is really exciting and if he can regularly tonk bowlers like he did at Chepauk a few days ago, Sehwag would have the added dimension of true competition for "his" kind of scoring ability. India is lucky to be able to drop Sehwag. That's a riches story, not a sad one.

Sehwag is such a great player, he is one of those special guys who can turn the course of the match fron his own bat. They need him in the Windies I think, but if he fails then that should be it. Remember a certain Australian team taking a certain Andrew Symonds to the WC in 2003, and remember what he did in the very first game? Now we can't imagine a one-day side without him. Virender has a chance to be this World Cup's Symonds and just needs to be given a chance. In that tournament, it was pretty much said to Symonds "if you don't perform here, you're out", and I think that type of message needs to be sent to Sehwag. They have to make it very very clear to him what they want, and what happens if he doesn't deliver, so he knows exactly the way he has to play to keep his career alive.

Can we put the team combination sumthing like this :
Robin Uthappa
Sourav Ganguly
Rahul Dravid
Sachin Tendulkar
Youvraj Singh
Ms Dhoni / D kathik
Virender Sehwag
Sreesanth / I Pathan
Anil Kumble / Harbajan S
Ajit Agarkar
Zaheer khan / Munaf

Its rather unfortunate that a player has to be dropped to make him to learn a lesson, not once, not twice but time and again. If they just take a leaf out of Australia's book they would make all Indians a world of good.

He is a great player the man who play the role of afridi in indian team and the highest test innings scorer from india,I am from Pakistan but i have to say that he deserves chances in the shape of at least 3,4 test series and also 4,5 ODI series

India cannot afford leaving Sehwag behind for the World Cup..he is a good all round performer and will be suitable to blast off in the West Indies pitches..It would be a grave error to leave him out.

If India play without him it will be a big loss for us..If no sehwag I am not going to watch cricket.I wont see cricket in my life..He is the only player can play all balls.

Sehwag is such a wonderful player. I think indian seelectors have to take him to forth coming serious in srilanka. now he his very well play in rangi trophy.I hope he will Come up with flying Colours.The selectors won't get to see much of Sehwag before they sit down to pick the World Cup squad. Maybe two games against Sri Lanka - if he's picked - or it will have to be just one Ranji ODI. They'll either have to go by past record - he was India's highest run-scorer in the ODIs in West Indies last year - potentially explosive quality, and allround value or decide to take the drastic step of leaving him behind. The first is almost a given, the second almost unthinkable. Almost.

I think every single person is correct, at any given day any oppsite side would dare to face sewag, if he get his rythem back, he is more dangerus than sachin or dhoni. give him one more try,poor man need help and will help our nation, good luck viru

I can't imagine India going to the World Cup without Sehwag in spite of his abysmal play. India has no player on their team who can single-handedly win a game like Sehwag. Sachin used to, not anymore. Sehwag can. India should take the risk of his failure and pick him for the World cup team. The rewards are far greater than the risks here. You are playing only 50 overs. If you go with 4 bowlers, you have 6 other batsmen to pick up the slack in the event of his failure. If they all fail, then you don't deserve to win to begin with. If he fires, its usually lights out for the opposition. Its a no-brainer. Uthappa and Sehwag in, Gambhir out. You can always bring Gambhir back into the fold after the World Cup.

I believe that Sehwag will be of tremendous help to the Indian Team if they are desirous of winning the world cup in the West Indies

Viru is a special player who can turn course of the match single handedly on his own. Currently problem is with his fitness. If he become lean and fitter, it not only benifits his fielding and also benifits his movements while batting.
Considering his bilities and lack of stable middle order his inclusion in WC is a must.

Sehwag should never be taken in the Indian tema unless his proves his mettle in the dosmetic circuit. Dunno why so much sympathy for him. Gautam Ghambir has played well, Robin Uthappa has started of in amazing fashion, Ganguly is back to his best, there is Sachin, so why on earth should we think of Sehwag. He's got enough oppurtunities to prove. He did n't and he got droppded. As simple as it gets.

It is heartening that your state, and domestic team, still roots for you, even though the rest of the nation discards you like the proverbial dirty linen, when one plays cricket for India.
I believe that you cannot keep a player, of Sehwag's talent, and temperament, lying low, for a long while. He is the proverbial street fighter, out in the middle, tense, and committed. While contemplating his presence in the field, the motion picture, "The Gangs of New York", comes to mind. I want him to be on that plane to the West Indies.

Sehwag is technically one of the most unsound players who has created his Average of 50 at dead wickets against meadow teams. He hardly played any match winning innings single handedly, his footwork is the best example for a starter to NOT to follow, I think India should give a chance to fresh blood. His performance in south africa is a true reflection of his real potential...

Just imagine what a situation this can be for world cup for India:

Opening: Robin Uthappa/Saurav Ganguly
1 Down: Virendar Sehwag
2 Down: RAhul Dravid
3 Down: Sachin Tendulkar
4 Down: Yuvraj/Dhoni/Karthik
5 Down: Ajit Agarkar/Irfan
6 Down: Zaheer Khan
7 Down: Harbhajan
8 Down: Kumble
9 Down: Powar/Sreesanth/Munaf

coming back - the point is the enviable situation for India when Sehwag comes one down and continues the blast off started by Robin and Saurav.

I think this is the combination of sehwag coming one down that will make India win the world cup;
Good Luck Rahul and guys.

Shrini

shewag was such a great player but now his recent form shows that he is struggling and needs to go to basics.He should know that he is not playing a club cricket or friendly game,lately he been a irresponsible opener and had affected the whole side in general and was main cause of India's downfall.If he bounces back he is welcome but for World CUp ...oh No. there are many options. Gambhir,Uthappa etc.

I am really surprised that he took this long to figure out that watching his dismissal video's and losing weight this .....never occured to him?
Is the Indian coaching staff too polite?
Sehwag needs to go in the baseball cages to re-develop his hand-eye coordination, teaching him proper technique is 'late' in the game.

I think Sehwag is better off down the order. Ideal order for Indians should be Uthappa, Ganguly, Dravid, Sachin, Yuvraj/Karthik (I'd plump for the latter), Sehwag, Dhoni, Pathan etc.

sehwag is one of the most important member in indian team for world cup.
i think sehwag has to bat at no.3 and indian selectors has to give many chances to him before going to the world cup

Not selecting Sehwag in the world cup playing eleven is almost un-thinkable for any Cricket lover. Just give him a brake. I am sure,the only thing that he needed was a good rest. We must not forget that he is one player who has proven many a times that he can single handedly win a match for India. I remember him showing his same skills when he was last here in Pakistan. Best of luck to him.

I am in complete agreement with Salman who has pointed out that Viru is technically unsound. He has been relying too much on the reflexive hand-eye coordination. As one grows older or plays too many matches on the trot, your reflexes slow down and you are not the same. In my opnion, he should not make the squad for the World Cup. Instead, he should perfect his footwork and practice more to play in the V in front of the wicket instead of trying to slice the ball over point as he has always been doing. Let Robin be given a chance. He is yound and his adrenalin is flowing right now. The selectors should capitalise on that.