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Virender Sehwag has been left out as India went in with five bowlers © Associated Press
Virender Sehwag, the out-of-form India opener, has been left out of the side for the Super Eights match against Australia. MS Dhoni, who called selecting the XI for this match "one of the toughest calls" of his captaincy career, has gone against his nature on two counts. As a rule he prefers seven batsmen and doesn't like making tough selection calls, but for this match not only did he leave out a senior player in Sehwag, he also went in with five bowlers.
Three of those five bowlers were spinners, on a dry Premadasa pitch that has started to assist the slow bowlers towards the business end of the tournament. Dhoni said all his spinners can contribute with the bat if needed, which made the decision a little easier. "If you see, [R] Ashwin, Harbhajan [Singh] and Piyush [Chawla] can bat a bit," Dhoni said at the toss.
Sehwag found a supporter in Kevin Pietersen. "I feel sorry for Viru," Pietersen said on Star Cricket's preview show for the match. "I know Australia would rather face an Indian side without Sehwag in it."
Sourav Ganguly, former India captain who knows Sehwag's game better than most, said he didn't expect Sehwag to be out for long. "I'm not surprised with that (being left out)," Ganguly said. "It's the right decision, looking at the context of the game and the nature of the pitch. India have gone in with five bowlers and three spinners … It's a good decision, but a one-off decision I'm sure. Sehwag will come back, it's horses for courses."