India captain Rahul Dravid launched a passionate defence of under-fire teammate Virender Sehwag on Sunday following the opening batsman's struggle to find World Cup form.

Sehwag's place in the side has been placed in doubt as he endures a lean period with the bat which culminated in a third-ball duck in the last warm-up match on Friday against West Indies.

It has not help Sehwag's confidence either that India's chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar disclosed the opener only got his place in the World Cup squad because of Dravid.

"In terms of supporting Sehwag, it's not that I am supporting Joe Bloggs' or any old player," Dravid said.

"This is a kid who has got some pedigree in international cricket. I get these questions all the time about if I am supporting Sehwag, and I wonder is it Joe Bloggs', some old Joe that I am supporting.

"The guy has done well in international cricket and people just need to hang back a little bit and let him play some cricket."

Dravid emphasised that to win the World Cup, India would need all of their players performing.

"That includes Viru' because we want whoever gets a chance to go out there to perform," he said.

"Whenever any player is not in form, it is an issue to deal with. It could be Sehwag, it could be any of us, but that's what a squad is all about. We have 15 players, and you hope that someone else steps up to the plate, and does the job for you.

"This is why we have spoken so much about believing that any 11 we put on the park should be able to win a match for India. This is what I truly believe, and I believe we have 15 players in the West Indies - whatever their names - that we can pick an 11 for India that can win against any team.

"I think this is the whole goal of what we are trying to do."

India have been drawn with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Bermuda in Group B of the World Cup to be contested in Trinidad.

They open their campaign against Bangladesh next Saturday.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)