``I feel very happy. I will get an opportunity to learn so many things about the game from players like Tendulkar, Azharuddin, Dravid and Saurav Ganguly. I would like to make full use of this chance to get into the Indian team for the World Cup,'' says Sehwag who has just come back from Jamshedpur after a Wills Trophy match. Cricket came to Sehwag late. ``None in our family had ever played any major game,'' says Virender's younger brother Vinod. But working hard, he made up for the late start. Noor Mohammad, sports in-charge at Jamia Milia Islamia, where Sehwag is a final-year BA (Pass) student, says: ``The very manner of his batting at the nets was enough to indicate that he was a special cricketer. He is a sincere boy who worked hard to rise to the top.''

He was almost an unknown cricketer until he was named in the India Under-19 squad that went to South Africa early in 1998 to participate in the Junior World Cup. Krishnamachari Srikkanth, coach of the team, saw a great promise in the aggressive batsman who is also a useful off-spinner. ``His all-round abilities will be useful to any side,'' he had said.

His route to the Youth World Cup team last year was smooth: He scored 68 (vs Punjab), 74 (Haryana), 52 (Himachal) and 70 (Gujarat). He also took more than five wickets each against Punjab and Haryana.

He hit the Ranji league this year. He did not get a chance to bat in his first Ranji Trophy game the Super League match against Tamil Nadu in Chennai was abandoned last February owing to pitch-tampering incident. But this season's first match saw Sehwag blooming. His blistering 118 against Haryana at Rohtak took game away from the home team. He has been consistent ever since. His two 50-plus knocks and a 48 in the Ranji Trophy this season showed his aggression.

Former Delhi skipper Ajay Sharma says: ``His arrival on the Dellhi cricket scene this season is a good omen for the team. He is a positive cricketer who believes in attacking the bowlers.''