Dravid gives a veiled warning to Sehwag

Chittagong, May 14 (UNI) Indian skipper Rahul Dravid today broke his silence on Virender Sehwag and expressing concern said the opener should start making meaningful contributions towards the team.

Virender Sehwag is on the tour of Bangladesh but with a rider: either prove or perish. And he has not done himself any favour with two scores of 30 and 21 to show from two ODIs against Bangladesh.

This does not mean he is absolutely out of form. He has it coming but in bursts and he wants to shore up as many runs as he can in those moments of spate.

While talking to the reporters here, the scribes asked Dravid on his persisting with Virender Sehwag despite his repeated failures.

The Indian skipper, for the first time defensive in his approach, said, ''A player of Sehwag's calibre is capable of delivering more than he is doing. He is the one who is capable of playing bigger innings.'' A century, 114 to be precise, for a show against Bermuda in the World Cup in recent times will not be enough to book a ticket to England, unless the selectors think he needs more time to prove.

''He is getting those starts but he is not building on that. It is disappointing. Even he knows about it. He is aware of that position. He knows he needs to start making meaningful contributions for the team,'' Rahul Dravid said.

Skipper Rahul Dravid has been a fierce advocate of Sehwag, turning down any questions on Sehwag's form. ''He is a classy player. He has proved it. He just needs more time. He may bounce back next match,'' has been the captain's regular reply.

The fact is no one is doubting the class of Virender Sehwag. He is undoubtedly the maverick stroke player who dares to send the opposition into oblivion. However, one fifty and a century in the last 10 innings does not do justice to his selection.

Even after the last ODI, Dravid had said, ''The openers have an aggressive role to play. Some day you click and some day you don't.

Its part of the game.'' Eight years into the international scene, Sehwag has also lost some of his eye-sight that hold him in good stead even when he missed the length of the deliveries. So he often hit down the line and with great success. Of late, he is found wanting against in coming deliveries which means he has little chance of lasting long, and his drop from the five-day game.

His poor form has also affected his presence in the field. He is no longer the bubbling self who is always chirpy and has an opinion on everything. He is more reticent and tends to be on his own.

If Sehwag is dropped, his absence from the team would be a great loss for India.

But the question is how long a rope of hope has been thrown at Sehwag while he fathoms the depth of self doubt? UNI