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'I feel 100 per cent and am looking forward to the IPL'
With just four days to go for the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League, Delhi Daredevils opener Virender Sehwag is all set for the battle ahead.
Dropped from the Indian Test team in the recently concluded Test series against Australia, the Nawab of Najafgarh would be keen to prove his detractors wrong.
As Daredevils begin the campaign against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens, Sehwag is sweating it out to hit the right note.
"I feel 100 per cent and looking forward for the IPL," said Sehwag.
'KP is a big occasion player and he will certainly be missed'
Boasting of big time players such as Mahela Jayawardene, Andre Russell, David Warner, Delhi will be team to reckon with this season.
However, Delhi will be without the services of Kevin Pietersen, who will miss out the rest of the season due to a knee injury.
Terming Pietersen as a big occasion player, Sehwag said, "KP is a big occasion player and he will certainly be missed but we have other players who can put their hands up and be counted. We have 10 quality foreign players and whoever replaces him in the team will get an opportunity to make a name for himself on the big stage.
"If they can grab their chance and prove their worth, we can win the trophy," he added.
'Captaincy has never affected my game'
When quizzed about the captaincy issue, Sehwag said that captaincy never affected his game. "I don't think it matters whether I am captaining the side or not.
"Captaincy has never affected my game. I have never ever felt the pressure on my batting while leading the side.
"If you talk about pressures of captaincy, then I had scored five consecutive half centuries during the last edition of IPL and the highest number of runs for Delhi Daredevils," he added.
'I am hopeful for the Delhi Daredevils this year'
When asked to pick a favourite for the IPL this season, Shewag had a more measured answer. "Look at the IPL history and you know that any team can win the tournament. It is difficult to pinpoint any one team.
"Every team has the capability to pose equal challenge and it will depend on how a particular team fares on the day
"Also if one guy can play particularly well on a given day, he can very well win the trophy for his team. Take Manvinder Bisla as an example – he played a superb knock in the IPL final and KKR won the trophy.
"I am hopeful that someone will do it for the Delhi Daredevils this year," he added.