New Delhi, Apr 12 : Indian opener Virender Sehwag on Sunday said if given a chance, he would prefer to step in as a middle order batsman.

"I was a middle order batsman. I like to bat in middle order. But currently, team demands me to open batting and I am doing so," Sehwag told reporters on the sidelines of a friendly five-over cricket match between his team and co-opener Gautam Gambhir's teams here.

Sehwag also revealed that his request to bat in lower down was turned down by the team management.

However, if records are reckoned, Sehwag''s average as an opener is 51.21, as compared to 41.55 when he batted in the middle and lower order.

Sehwag also pointed out that his opening partner Gautam Gambhir was a regular opening batsman.

"Gautam is a regular opener and someone forced me to do the opening. I was a middle order batsman and the team asked me to open the inning. I am not considered as a regular opener. I never opened in first class cricket before opening in Test cricket," Sehwag added.

Meanwhile, Gambhir said that the bowling of his Delhi Daredevils team is pivotal for his team's chances of winning this year''s Indian Premier League (IPL).

"I think in Twenty20 format having a good bowling is very important. We have good bowlers like Daniel Vettori, Glenn McGrath, Ashish Nehra, Amit Mishra and Mahroof. The conditions in South Africa are going to suit these bowlers. If we set a good target, we have very good chance of winning the IPL this time," Gambhir said. (ANI)