Batting is the strength of Gemini Arabians - Virender Sehwag

Former Indian batsman Virender Sehwag, who will lead the Gemini Arabians in the Masters Champions League (MCL), feels that the team's strength lies in their batting lineup.

Players like Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kumar Sangakkara, Brad Hodge, Muttiah Muralitharan and Saqlain Mushtaq are among the big names in the Gemini Arabians team.

Sehwag expressed the view that he is eager to play against his former captain Sourav Ganguly who will lead the Libra Legends in the inaugural edition of the MCL. 

"Everyone is looking forward to these MCL matches," Sehwag said.

“The moment the first match happens then everyone will get into the groove and (will) get ready for the next four games.

“Personally, I'm looking forward to that first game because I'm playing against Sourav Ganguly.

“He was my ex-captain so he knows everything about me and I know everything about Sourav.

“So, hopefully that game will go in a good manner and people of the UAE will come and see some good cricket.

“So I'm hoping that we can play a good game and entertain the crowd.” 

Putting emphasis on his team's batting prowess, Sehwag said that there are players in his team who can win games single handedly on a given day.

"I think our strength is still our batting.

“Richard Levi, myself, Sangakkara, Brad Hodge, Justin Kemp, Jacques Rudolph, these are very good batsmen and any one of them can win the game for the team.

“If I compare my bowling (attack), we have two legends in Muralitharan and Saqlain Mushtaq.

“Apart from the spin bowling, we have decent fast bowlers like Graham Onions and Kyle Mills and Rana Naved.”

With over 17,000 international runs in all formats of the game, Sehwag scored 23 hundreds in Test cricket and 15 centuries in One-Day Internationals between 2001 and 2013.

Though he announced his retirement from international cricket, the 37-year-old is currently active in the domestic circuit and is confident of being amongst the runs in the MCL.

“I think my name is enough, I don't need to give any message,” said Sehwag with a smile.

"I will try to compete with others and try to score as many runs as I can and try to win games for my Gemini Arabians.

“I have been playing first-class cricket till recently though I did not play international matches for the last two years.

“Since I was playing first-class cricket, I am in form having scored two hundreds and a couple of fifties, I am in good nick.

“It gives me huge confidence and boost to go out there and to play.

“Any T20 game is to go out there, watch the ball and try to hit the ball.

“Feels great when you are in good nick so that you can go out there and entertain the people and at the moment I am feeling very good.” 

Gemini Arabians will kick-start their MCL campaign with the first match of the tournament against Libra Legends on 28th January 2016. 

© Cricket World 2016