TRELAWNY (Jamaica): India's aggressive strokemaker Virender Sehwag has pledged to repay a debt to skipper Rahul Dravid for his unwavering support.

Going through the leanest streak of his international cricket career, the struggling Sehwag's selection in India's World Cup squad was not assured until Dravid insisted on having the belligerent opener in the team.

Huge morale booster

``The backing I've received from Dravid has been a huge morale booster. I now want to justify the faith in me and live up to the expectations,'' Sehwag said on Thursday.

``I was confident of staging a comeback and...the time I spent away from international cricket helped me get my focus back, I did a lot of meditation.''

Sehwag was dropped from the Indian team in January for the limited-overs internationals against the West Indies, but re-called for the one-dayers against Sri Lanka.

After his re-call to the national team, Sehwag had not made a big impression in the few opportunities he got against Sri Lanka before the selectors picked the World Cup squad.

Dravid and coach Greg Chappell attended the selection panel's meeting in Mumbai last month.

Deciding factor

Dravid's support ensured that the impetuous opener was in the squad, even if listed among the middle-order batsmen. Chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar later disclosed that only Dravid's insistence compelled the selectors to include Sehwag in the squad.

Two days after his inclusion in the Caribbean-bound World Cup squad, Sehwag posted a strokeful 46 — batting as an opener — in the last one-dayer against Sri Lanka that gave India a 2-1 series triumph.

The team management appears keen to promote Sehwag back to his opening position for the World Cup. Sehwag's aggression at the top of the order provides the impetus to India's batting.

``I'm quite happy with my form, it's getting better and better with every session in the nets. I want to stay longer at the crease,'' said Sehwag, indicating that he was now looking to settle down before unleashing his array of strokes.

Sehwag was India's vice-captain until a few months ago, but his position in the squad became doubtful during the one-day series in South Africa and subsequently he was dropped.

Not a major issue

That was not a major issue, Sehwag said.

``I was not expecting the vice-captaincy when it was given to me, nor was I disappointed when it was taken away.'' — AP

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