We have won a revenge game, says MoM Virender Sehwag

Mirpur, Feb 19 (PTI) For Virender Sehwag, the 87-runvictory over Bangladesh in the World Cup opener today was arevenge that he waited to take for the past four years.

After his magnificent knock of 175 off only 140 balls,Sehwag admitted that he was waiting for this day for the pastfour years having lost to same opponents in the Cup openerfour years back.

"It was a good start for the team. I have said this is arevenge game and we have really played well," the man of thematch said at the post match presentation ceremony.

Someone who never minces words, Sehwag said thatBangaldesh are a good outfit when it came to limited overscricket.

"When I came here, the press asked me about Bangladeshteam. I have said before Bangladesh are not good in Tests, butthey can compete in ODIs, but today they could not," was hiscurt assessment about the opposition.

Sehwag who had expressed his intentions of batting longbefore the start of the tournament said that strategy was toget 100 within 30 overs.

"I was looking to bat long, maybe get a 100 in 30 oversand then go on. Special thanks to my physio Nitin (Patel)and trainer Ramji (Srinivasan) for helping me. I was carryinga couple of injuries and they got me ready for this game."

Sehwag was all praise for young Virat Kohli who alsoscored a century. "He batted superbly. He deserved thatcentury."

The Nawab of Najafgarh as he is popularly known alsopraised the team effort.

"Everyone has done well except Sreesanth. But one bowlercan have an off-day but the others did well."

For skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, fielding is an areawhere there is lot of room for improvement.

"In the fielding department, we will need to contributemore. While fielding, we would like to save around ten runs.

There are others in the tournament who are good fieldingsides."

He showered accolades on Sehwag and Kohli for adding awhopping 203 runs in only 24.1 overs.

"When you have lost a couple of wickets, you need tostabilise, and it was nice to see Sehwag and Kohli do that.

The pitch was on the slower side during the afternoon sessionand it would have been difficult for a new batsman to getgoing right from the start. So once the batsmen get going theyshould look to stay till the end," the captain said.

He also praised the bowlers for putting up a controlledperformance. .