— File Photo: AP

BITTER TRUTH: Dilip Vengsarkar admitted Virender Sehwag's poor form with the bat went against him in the initial scheme of things.

New Delhi: An out of form Virender Sehwag was selected in India's cricket World Cup squad only because captain Rahul Dravid insisted on his inclusion, National Selection Committee Chairman, Dilip Vengsarkar, disclosed.

He said the selectors had initially decided to leave out Sehwag, but Dravid insisted on having the hard-hitting batsman in the ranks and they eventually agreed.

``I would always back the captain. When I was leading India, I never got the team I wanted and I didn't want Rahul to go through the same. He insisted on having Sehwag and that made the difference,'' he told Karan Thapar in CNN-IBN's Devil's Advocate programme to be telecast on Sunday.

Vengsarkar admitted Sehwag did not feature in the initial scheme of things for his prolonged run-drought, but enjoyed backing from some quarters in the team.

``It was a bit of gamble (to have him in the side)... but I think he has done extremely well in the past. Besides, he has won a lot of matches for India. We are hoping that he would do well in the World Cup,'' he added.

Since taking over from Kiran More, Vengsarkar's tenure so far has seen the return of the old guard and the former India captain insisted experience could not be done away with. ``It's important to have fresh legs in the field, but the fact of the matter is that you need to win also. And for that you need experience,'' he explained.

Also shedding light on Irfan Pathan's selection, Vengsarkar said, ``both Irfan and Sehwag have fantastic records and they have done extremely well in the past. But again form is important as well. But they have experience, which makes a lot of difference. If there are tight games, experience can win you matches.''

He also justified the decision to appoint Sachin Tendulkar as the vice-captain. ``Rahul is an experienced player, so is Sachin. If something happens to Dravid, God forbid, Sachin can lead,'' he reasoned.

The issue was not discussed with Dravid, he said.

On Greg Chappell, Vengsarkar said the Team India coach has done ``reasonably'' well and felt the Australian should continue with the team even after the World Cup.

BCCI takes exception

Meanwhile, the BCCI on Saturday took strong exception to Vengsarkar's remark on Sehwag's inclusion in the World Cup squad, saying it was not proper for the chief selector to make such statements.

The BCCI also said that such remarks could only lead to fresh controversies ahead of India's campaign. ``The Chairman of the Selection Committee should not make such a remark. It creates unnecessary controversy before the World Cup. He should restrain from making such statements,'' the BCCI Vice-President, Rajiv Shukla, said.

``The team is selected by the five selectors in consultation with the captain and coach. Selection issues should not come out in the open,'' Shukla said. Asked whether the BCCI would seek an explanation from Vengsarkar, he said, ``we have to study what he has said in the interview and then we will see.''

— PTI

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