Rotation policy: Sehwag to replace Gautam Gambhir or Sachin in second ODI

Virender Sehwag in a press conference said that he was rested as part of the rotation policy and that he will be back for the second One-day International of the CB series against Sri Lanka at WACA in Perth. “They will decide on it tomorrow. We want to give break to the top three batsmen, either Gautam (Gambhir) or Tendulkar will take a break and maybe I can play,” he said, according to The Indian Express. Sehwag said the rotation in the top order was largely intended to give opportunity to the youngsters to get used to the conditions where the next World Cup will be staged in 2015.

However former captain Sunil Gavaskar on Tuesday slammed the proposed rotation of the top-order batsmen in the Indian team in the cricket tri-series in Australia, saying that it suggested that the players were unfit.

According to The Times Of India, Gavaskar criticised the move and said that the best players should be fielded till the knock-out stage. "The primary thing is to field a balanced team and to win matches. This business of rotation suggests that the players are unfit. The best team should be fielded even if a player has played eight matches successively. If all the players are fit, everybody should be in the mix,"

Meanwhile, Sehwag, who in most probability will play the second ODI, said that he plans to retain his style of batting, reports The Hindu.

“I tried to play a little differently in Perth because the ball was doing something. It didn't work so I went back to my own style. I will do so in ODIs as there are only 50 overs and you want to give a good start to the team. My method of playing is to show a little respect to the new ball and then go after the bowling, depending on who is bowling. If someone is bowling well, you have got to give him some respect,” Sehwag said.

News reports also quoted Sehwag wishing Yuvraj Singh, who is battling cancer, a speedy recovery. "Yuvraj I heard is taking chemotherapy but I'm hoping that he will be fine and he'll come back soon. We will all pray for Yuvraj and wish he'll be fit soon," he said, adding that he was confident that the stylish left-hander, who played a stellar role in India's World Cup win, will emerge victorious in his battle. "He'll come out of whatever problem he is having and he can play as soon as possible," Sehwag said.

While the BCCI is still looking for a sponsor for the team after the Sahara India Group snapped all ties last week and ended their association with Indian cricket for 11 years, India opener Virender Sehwag wants them to continue with team. Â

According to The Times of India, Sehwag would love to don the Sahara logo. "Sahara are main sponsor for the last couple of years, and we love to have Sahara on our chests, we are pretty happy if Sahara will continue," Sehwag said, adding that he would love to don the Sahara logo, the team will respect their decision.

"It's their decision and we respect their decision, I know Sahara Sri is very fond of cricket and other sports. It's his decision if he wants to continue with the team he can or otherwise he can pull out," he added