Sehwag Ready to Deliver in World Cup 2011

Virender Sehwag who was ruled out of India’s recent one-day series against South Africa due to a shoulder injury, feels that his side is fully prepared to win the title in front of the home crowd.

“I was feeling some pain in my shoulder,” Sehwag told news channel CNN-IBN. “So (I thought it was) better to quit the South Africa one-dayers)”

“I didn’t want to get injured during the South Africa tour and miss the World Cup. So I came back and went to Germany to see a couple of doctors. I got a couple of injections and now I’m fine.”

“I am going to the National Cricket Academy (in Bangalore) and will spend a couple of days there to check everything, if I can bowl and throw also but if I can’t, then I’ll let them know. But at the moment I’m fully fit.”

While Sehwag is coming out of the shoulder injury, Gautam Gambhir is recuperating from a hand injury while Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina are struggling for form. But the dashing opener contended that every cricketer goes through the rough patch at some point of time.

“I am not worried with all these (injuries and slump in form to some players). Sometimes you perform well and sometimes you don’t. I was not performing well in 2006-07 but my time came in 2008, 2009 and 2010. I performed well and scored runs in both One-dayers and Tests. These things happen in every player’s career. I am not concerned,” he said.

“Time is coming for Indian batsmen to perform in front of the home crowd. I am looking forward to that. Everyone has not been scoring big hundreds of late but now is the time for us with World Cup round the corner. I am confident everybody will score,” said Sehwag.

Asked about playing under pressure of huge expectations and a tough World Cup group comprising England, South Africa, West Indies and underdogs Bangladesh, Sehwag said the Indians have done their home work well to give their best shot at glory.

“Bangladeshi people would be expecting their side to beat us again like in 2007 World Cup. But this time we are prepared well and confident of beating them in Bangladesh. It’s a revenge game for us. We will not take it lightly.”

“We are playing in India and know the conditions better than other teams in our group. We know how wickets will behave. When we played against England last time, we won 5-0. Against South Africa, we have done well against them in their country and in India.”

“West Indies, they have got good players in Kieron Pollard and Chris Gayle and if they click on, it’s difficult for us but India has a very strong side in Sachin, Gambhir, Pathan, Kohli, Yuvraj, Dhoni and Raina. I am looking forward to see Yusuf Pathan in this World Cup,” he said.

Sehwag said it’s a special moment for him with World Cup happening in India.

“World Cup is coming to India and it is my third. Every cricketer wants to play the World Cup and I am lucky enough to have played two. I am very lucky that I am playing at home. All the players are very happy that it is happening in India. I hope we will deliver and give our best shot. If the day belongs to us, we can beat any side,” said Sehwag.