Sehwag has failed to be of any use to India over the past number of series

Former India batsman Sunil Gavaskar believes opener Virender Sehwag’s lazy attitude and recent slump in form were the two key reasons as to why the national selectors had to make the tough decision of dropping him.

Sehwag has been extremely poor in the limited overs format and Gavaskar feels as if the selectors made the right call in dropping him since the opener needed a wake-up call to realise that his spot wasn’t secured forever.

“I think it was lack of form, he was not getting runs,” Gavaskar told NDTV. “I think there was a hint of concern about the approach and the attitude and that might have weighed on the selectors’ minds when they took the call to leave him out of the side. But he is a match winner.”

Gavaskar also stated that a little time off will allow Sehwag to regroup and refocus and added that he was surprised how the man who scored 219 in an ODI against the West Indies in 2011 could have fallen to such a low level within such a short period of time.

“A little spell out of the team may perhaps make him understand what it means to play for India,” Gavaskar said. “You don’t really understand the value of playing for India till you are actually out through injury or when you are dropped. You miss the atmosphere.”

When asked about India’s decision to replace Sehwag with Rohit Sharma, who has been equally as bad over the past number of series, Gavaskar said: “Look, if you come in to bat at number five or six, you will not get a chance to score hundreds. What he needs is bat at number three for three matches and if he still doesn’t score, you can say he had the opportunities.”