File photo of Virender Sehwag.
© AP
Out-of-favour Indian opener Virender Sehwag still harbours dreams of playing for India in the upcoming 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, starting in February. (Also read: India's tour of Australia will help them for the World Cup: VVS Laxman)
"I am hopeful of making it to the list of 30 probables for the World Cup," Sehwag said at an ICC event in Mumbai on Tuesday. The World Cup trophy is in India and it will travel around cities of Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Jalandhar and Ahmedabad from December 2-7. (India face Australia in first warm-up match of ICC World Cup 2015)
Sehwag, known for his nonchalant and aggressive style of batting, was a key member of India's memorable World Cup triumph in 2011 under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. However, the Nawab of Najafgarh, as he fondly known, failed to keep his place in the side since July 2012. (In Pics: World Cup goes on a shark dive | World Cup trophy's maiden diving adventure)
Opportunities were few and far in between as the selection committee was looking to build a side for the future. His opening partner Gautam Gambhir too lost his place, with the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma moving ahead of the Delhi duo in the pecking order and jostling for the openers' slot.
Having played his last ODI in January 2013 against Pakistan, Sehwag's return to the national side for the World Cup 2015 seems like a herculean task.
The Delhi batsman's failure to sweat it out in the domestic circuit and instill faith in selectors again has not helped his case. The fact that he wasn't picked for India's tour of Australia, commencing on December 9, was perhaps the final nail in the coffin.
Yet, a lot could depend on how Dhoni & Co. fare Down Under in the tri-series involving England beginning January 16. If the likes of Dhawan and Rohit fall prey to pace and bounce, Sehwag could still usurp them and be on the flight to Australia for team India's World Cup title defence in 2015.
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