Sehwag aims ODI recall with good show in Twenty20 World Cup

New Delhi, Aug 29 (UNI) Kept in the cold after prolonged form slum, swashbuckling batsman Virender Sehwag now feels that the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa next month would be the ideal platform to revive his India one-day career.

Sehwag was dropped from the Indian ODI side after touring Bangladesh in May while he last played a Test match for India against South Africa in early January, but the Delhi batsman is confident of doing well in South Africa which, he said, would help him earn a place in the Indian ODI squad.

''Twenty20 is new format and it suits my type of batting. I am working on my batting and fitness. If I do well in South Africa I have the chance to make a comeback in the ODI team,'' Sehwag told reporters after unveiling the trophy for the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa next month.

''I have toured South Africa three or four times and I know the conditions there. So, I think I should do well there.'' The 28-year-old batsman was all praise for Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India's captain for the Twenty20 World Cup.

''Dhoni getting the captaincy is good for India. He is maturing and has a great cricketing brain. I hope he will do well,'' Sehwag said.

He said the newest form of cricket was good for the public more than for the cricketers themselves.

''I first played Twenty20 cricket in 2003 but now it has come to stay as a regular feature. Hopefully India play well in South Africa.

''It is good fun for public than the cricketers.

They (the spectattors) will come to watch how many boundaries are hit,'' ICC CEO Malcolm Speed said of Sehwag, ''I can not think of a better player than Sehwag for this new format.'' Sehwag said the difference between ODI and Twenty20 crickets was that the newest form of cricket requires more all-rounders who can bat and bowl.

''In my opinion this format needs all-rounders. If you have a player who can bowl and bat down the order, that is ideal.'' UNI