Sehwag wants to play for Delhi Daredevils again

Struggling batsman Virender Sehwag, who has not been retained by his IPL franchisee, is hoping that Delhi Daredevils will get him back in the side when the players' auction take places next month.

The Delhi franchisee chose not to retain a single player from its previous squad.

"This IPL 7 auction presents a good opportunity to franchises to buy exciting talent like Jacques Kallis and Yuvraj Singh and I hope the Delhi Daredevils team buys me once again," Sehwag told NDTV.

Sehwag failed to arrest his slide in this season's Ranji Trophy by flopping continuously with the bat.

But the explosive batsman said that he has not lost hopes of making a comeback to the national side.

He expressed hope that he will be able to open the batting for India again with fellow discard Gautam Gambhir.

"I have had a long Test partnership with Gauti (Gambhir) and the fact that he is also from Delhi also helps our wonderful association. We have handled pressure situations well together and I hope to open with him for India again," Sehwag said.

He acknowledged that with young performing well, now there is stiff competition for a place in the Indian team.

"Everybody wants to get into the Indian team and young players like Shikhar (Dhawan) are doing really well but I am trying my best to get back into the team, which is what I can do from my side," Sehwag said.

Image: Virender Sehwag

Photograph: BCCI