Sehwag to lead as India looks to settle scores

Rajkot: India have rested captain Rahul Dravid for the sixth One-Day International cricket match against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

Virender Sehwag will lead the team and look forward to bring India back to its winning ways.

The return of Sachin Tendulkar, Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan Singh, who were rested for the last match in Ahmedabad, will bolster the team.

Coach Greg Chappell said that he had faith in Sehwag's abilities to lead the side in Dravid's absence.

"He handled it pretty well at a short notice. He is very much looking forward to it," Chappell said.

Mohammad Kaif too is back in the team, after missing the first five matches of the series due to an injury.

"I did not score lot of runs in the Duleep game but I spent enough time at the crease. I hope to do well," he said.

Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu said he hoped to retain the winning combination of the fifth match but added that nothing had been finalised as yet.

He said that the team looked to end the series on a positive note although winning three successive matches against the in-form Indian team would be a "tough task".

"In the last game, we showed lot of character and belief in ourselves, while chasing a target of 286. We want to end the tour on a high, and get the confidence going for the Tests.

"It would be ideal to have a 3-4 score line but India are a tough Opposition. We rate them high in these conditions," he added.

Injury Scare

The Indian team has finalised the final 12 with Kerala pacer S Sreesanth being rested but it is an anti-climax for young fast bowler V R V Singh.

The youngster's hopes of making his India debut went up in smoke after being advised "a couple of weeks' rest", according to media manager Baladitya.

The Punjab bowler was diagnosed by physio John Gloster as having an 'inversion injury to Left ankle'.

He had also missed the Duleep trophy match for North zone against Zimbabwe late on October due to a foot injury.

"At the time of selection, the selectors were not aware of the extent of V R V Singh's injury. Basically, he has been advised rest," Baladitya said.

The selectors are expected to name a replacement for V R V Singh but it could not be confirmed if the player would be available on Wednesday.

On Tendulkar, who had made a visit to a hospital in Ahmedabad prior to his departure to Rajkot, Baladitya said it was a "routine check."

"Tendulkar has been undergoing regular check ups. After the match in Ahmedabad, he had some free time and the facility was also there. So he met the doctors," he said.

The team management added that Dravid, who did not take to the field during the Lankan innings to receive treatment for cramps in Ahmedabad, does not have any major injury worry.