Laxman believes Sehwag can still be an asset to the Test team

Former India middle order batsman VVS Laxman has announced that the national team will definitely need opener Virender Sehwag in the side when they travel to South Africa at the end of the year.

Laxman noted that Sehwag had no real flaws in his technical approach or reflexes and added that the flamboyant opener should have played all four Tests against Australia instead of being dropped halfway through the series.

“The selectors are forgetting that the next Test series will be against South Africa,” Laxman told Mumbai Mirror. “There should be a plan and vision for that series. When India go to South Africa, it is important to have a good mix of experience and youth. I cannot imagine an Indian team without Sehwag in those tough South African conditions. India cannot afford to go to South Africa without Sehwag.”

Sehwag was hanging on to his opening spot by a mere thread after the four-Test series against England last year, but his 27 runs in three innings against Australia sealed the deal for captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the national selectors to go ahead and replace him.

Sehwag has not made a century outside of India in over five years, but Laxman still believes that he should have been allowed to play the last two Tests as they are the only Test matches the national team will be involved in till their tour of South Africa.

“In Chennai, he was unlucky to have played on in the first innings,” Laxman said. “Then in the second innings there and in the first innings in Hyderabad, good deliveries got him out. It was not that he threw away his wicket. It is not the right time to drop him.

“It was important to give him two more matches. Especially in Mohali [the venue for the third Test], Sehwag has always done well. The wicket there would have suited his game. It was a matter of one good knock for him to get back into form. Keeping in view the South Africa series, it is not a right decision. This would have been an ideal chance for him to come back into form.”

During the Australia Test series, Sehwag was wearing glasses while batting, spurring many cricket pundits and former players to suggest that his reflexes were starting to slow down, but Laxman once again came to the rescue of his team-mate, stating that he can still be a huge asset to the national team.

“There is a lot of talk about his glasses,” Laxman said. “Do you know how many players use contact lenses? I think someone uses the lenses just to make sure that his eyes are fine. I don’t know why people are making such hue and cry about the glasses. I see no problems with Sehwag’s reflexes.”

Laxman is also adamant about the fact that Sehwag will regain his spot on the Test roster.

“Everyone goes through a lean patch,” he said. “Sehwag is also going through bad form. But he is too good a player to be out of form for too long. I’m sure he will play wherever possible and his performance will talk for him.

“The South Africa series is in December. So there are enough matches for him to make a case for himself. The domestic season would have started before that. He will have got enough matches to prove himself by then.”