We need to give more time to Sehwag: Dhoni

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Virender Sehwag’s patchy form continued but skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni still believes that the senior opener should be given more time to get back to form as he is a match-winner.

Asked about the performance of Sehwag, who played in the Test wearing spectacles, Dhoni said, “I think we just need to give him more time. Well, that’s how he bats. About Viru pa, I’ve said this plenty of times before, when he scores runs, he looks a fantastic player and when he doesn’t, you can question the shot he played or the way he played.”

“He’s someone who’s always played with that sort of flair. At times, we get very critical about him. We all know he is someone who can change the course of the game, he’s an attacking player. So let’s go forward with that kind of an attitude,” he said.

Sehwag had scores of 2 and 19 in the first Test which concluded here today. He said Sehwag was unfortunate to get out in the first innings. “This wicket, there was not much pace. First innings, he was unfortunate because he middle the ball, yet it came back and fell on the stump. In the second innings, there was not much pace for him to play freely,” Dhoni said at the press-conference after India beat Australia by eight wickets in the first Test here.

The Indian captain also made it clear that Murali Vijay, who scored 10 and six in the two innings, will continue at the opening slot. “If you look at just the statistics of opening batsmen you may say that he (Vijay) is not good enough. But at the same time you need to give them a fair amount of time. Let’s hope for the best. Vijay has played this game, let’s continue with him and give him some time and the comfort of saying that he’s wanted over here,” Dhoni said.