Sehwag issues a warning

Indian star Harbhajan Singh finds himself on the end of a traditional Bangladeshi welcome upon his arrival at the Zia International Airport yesterday. India arrived to take part in the tri-nation ODI series also involving Sri Lanka which gets underway January 4. Photo: STAR

A buoyant India cricket team arrived in Dhaka yesterday with a promise to start their campaign in the New Year with same sort of form they have been maintaining over the last two years.
After a successful home series against Sri Lanka, the other opponents in the tri-nation tournament besides hosts Bangladesh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side start the competition as clear favourites as their staggering batting line-up put them ahead of their opponents.
Understandably the Indian players were found in jovial mood at the Zia International Airport and the short duration of the tour even made them happier. It was not captain Dhoni but dashing opener Virender Sehwag who turned to the media to make it clear that they came here to continue their splendid run of form.
The India vice-captain however showed every respect to their opponents no matter that Sri Lanka have been missing some of their key players and Bangladesh have yet to be a big name in the World Cricket fraternity though the Tigers have got the potential to surprise any team. But Sehwag said they are focussed on their job.
"Our target is just to play good cricket. You know for the last two years we have been playing very tough and good cricket and hopefully we will maintain it in 2010 also," Sehwag expressed his team's sentiment.
The 31-year-old prolific right-hander also said that the current India cricket team, which now holds the number one position in Test rankings, was little bothered about the rankings rather their main focus was to perform consistently.
"We are not worried about the number one or number two positions, we just came here to play good cricket and hopefully we will do that and win the series here. And if we can do so then the rankings will look after itself," he said.
"It's important for the team to play well consistently. If you do that you will stay there in number one or number two positions," added the Delhi batsman who so far played 72 Tests and 216 ODIs.
Sehwag is well aware about the conditions in Bangladesh and said that the dew could be a major factor in the day-night affairs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
"I think whenever you play in the subcontinent you will get the same kind of wicket. First up it's a good track to bat on and later on it gets slower and slower, and if there is dew then it can be a big factor. It's a big factor in Bangladesh because I watched some matches of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. The team batted second won the matches easily," he observed.
He also assured that they would not take any team lightly in the competition.
"I think Sri Lanka are the toughest considering the strength, but Bangladesh are also tough opponents in their own conditions because they can surprise anyone. They can beat any one; they have beaten Australia and Pakistan, so we are not taking Bangladesh lightly," said Sehwag, whose side itself has a bitter memory of losing the first round game against the Tigers in the 2007 World Cup in West Indies which confirmed their early exit from the competition.
Question was asked whether they had been informed about the absence of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and whether it's an advantage for them as Sri Lanka were missing some of their key players, but Sehwag looked little interested over the issues.
"I don't know the team but whoever is playing, is playing for Bangladesh. It's a pride for them and hopefully they will do well," was the reply from the master blaster.
"The key players were there in India also, but they did not perform. Still they [Sri Lanka] are a good side. When the new players come nobody knows what he will do or what he does. It's difficult for the teams to bowl or bat against them. So, it will be a tough task for us," he added.
Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar has opted out of the one-day tournament and Sehwag believes that it's good to give the seniors some break.
"We have been playing so many matches, so it's our duty and responsibility to give break to senior players to make sure whenever they come, they come as a fresh player to give their best. So it's good to be have a break," he defended.
And the right-hander issued a warning by saying that he was looking forward to prolong his purple patch.
"I think I am batting really well. And I am hoping that 2010 will also be good for me. But last two years you know I was in my prime form. So I am just carrying the same confidence with which I scored against Sri Lanka and against other teams. Hopefully I will do well in 2010 also. But it's difficult to maintain your form consistently. I will try to work hard and maintain my form," he promised.
SQUAD
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Yuvraj Singh, Sudeep Tyagi, Dinesh Karthik, Sreesanth, Ashok Dinda and Amit Mishra.