Gundappa Viswanath

Bangalore: Former India captain Gundappa Viswanath is of the view that vice-captain Virender Sehwag is going to play the biggest hand in our World Cup campaign.

Match No.1 for India is in Dhaka on February 19.

“Sehwag has a better record in Test cricket, but he holds the key for India... Others also have a big role, but Sehwag can really turn it on and make the difference,” Viswanath, a gem of a batsman at his peak, told The Telegraph on Thursday.

Asked if he’d go with the in-form Virat Kohli or the experienced Suresh Raina, Viswanath, now chairman of the Karnataka Cricket Academy, said: “Kohli would be my choice... I’d have him at No.4 (after Sachin Tendulkar, Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir), followed by Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Yusuf Pathan and four specialist bowlers...”

The bowling combination — 3-1 or 2-2 — would depend on the conditions.

Viswanath praised Dhoni’s captaincy. “Whatever the situation, I find him in control... Even if there’s turmoil within, one can’t make out anything... He’s been delivering and his leadership, too, is going to be a factor in the World Cup.”

While India were “favourites,” Viswanath made the point that Sri Lanka, Australia and South Africa posed the “biggest threat.”

Viswanath, a double World Cupper himself, signed off saying India would have to play “smart cricket” at the right time(s).