Sehwag is no ordinary player, he is special: Dravid

Montego Bay, Mar 11 (UNI) Team India skipper Rahul Dravid came out strongly in defence of his beleaguered batsman Virender Sehwag, saying he is no ordinary player.

''I have not supported any Joe Blogg or a Ramadin, Viru is special,'' Dravid told mediapersons while stoutly defending Sehwag.

''I am surprised when people question his inclusion in the team.

He has done so much for the team, he has a 300 under his belt, has played several memorable innings, he just needs support,'' he added.

Dravid agreed that on paper this was one of the most open World Cups. ''Yes on paper it looks the tightest and the most open World Cup but the picture will be clearer when the tournament gets to the Super Eight stage and three or four teams move away from the rest.'' Asked whether it was going to be his last World Cup, Dravid said, ''Well I don't know, I can't talk about the future, I don't know what is in store for me. I am not into the realm of future. At the moment I am focused. My whole concentration is on the World Cup.'' He said winning against the West Indies in the warm-up match yesterday was a good morale booster for the team.

''Though it was a warm-up match but still to win it so comprehensively against a world class team like the West Indies is great. The hosts had beaten us last year in the one day series here,'' the Karnataka batsman said.

The Indian skipper, however, admitted that he was not taking any opposition in the group lightly. ''Our first match against Bangladesh is going to be tough. Bangladesh are a good side. They have victories against us, against Australia and Pakistan under their belt. Their showing in the warm-up matches has been good so we can't afford to underestimate them.'' Asked about the newly-laid tracks for the World Cup, Dravid said his boys were not thinking about them. ''It is not a cause of worry for us because tracks are going to be the same for all the teams.

We have a squad which can perform on any sort of wicket. It is the performance on a particular day that will matter and not the ground, as the conditions will be same for everybody.'' He agreed that it would be tough to progress into the Super Eight because every team will give their best.

''The World Cup is a huge stage and you just can't take your rivals lightly. Our group will probably be one of the most contested ones as Bangladesh in these conditions can be dangerous.

''They have the bowlers to make the most of the conditions,'' he said.

To a query whether a score of 500 was possible in this World Cup, Dravis said, ''I don't see this possibility, though I will not be surprised if it happens but personally I don't think it is possible.

The pitches here don't support very big scores.'' He said he was hopeful that all the players will give their best. ''It is going to be a team effort and that is why we have 15 players. It is not an individual game. Every player will have to give and complement the other.'' The skipper was of the view that seamer Irfan Pathan was improving with every outing. ''Yesterday he picked up three wickets and that must have boosted his morale. He is improving and that is what we want.'' Dravid said it was a huge moment for the youngsters playing in their first World Cup and they were very confident of performing well.

''We are focused and confident but our feet are firmly planted on the ground,'' he added.

UNI