Virender Sehwag's slump in form has now begun to ail Team India and there is a chance that the swashbuckling opener may be moved down the order during the ICC Champion's Trophy.

Skipper Sourav Ganguly had dropped a broad hint before the team left for the twin-tours of Holland and England that if Sehwag fails consistently at the top, the team will push him down the order.

The Delhi opener might have finished the previous season on a high of a triple century in Pakistan but his present form has been nothing less than disastrous.

After his 79 in the first one-day international in Karachi in March, Sehwag has successive scores of 26, 13, 26, 20, 0, 37, 16, 1, 81, 5, 17, DNB (did not bat), 4 and 0 from the last 14 games.

Even his 100th one-day international in front of packed stands at The Oval on Friday lasted just two legal deliveries as Darren Gough pierced through his defence and had him plumb leg before wicket.

In the Asia Cup final in Sri Lanka last month, Sehwag needed only 46 runs more to complete his 3000 runs in one-day internationals but he is still 20 runs short of the target having played five more matches down the line.

Sehwag's failure means the last stand of substance by the Indian openers has not happened for a while since the last time the openers put on 50-plus for the first wicket was 15 matches ago.

Sehwag's dismissal at The Oval was uncharacteristic in the sense that he is being mostly dismissed these days hitting straight into the hands of covers or spooning it at mid-on -- rarely has there been a dismissal outside the 25-yard ring.

Critics have expected a rather lordly approach from Sehwag and even coach John Wright admits the opener can do with some better application.

So far Ganguly has resisted the urge to replace him at the top of the order but once Sachin Tendulkar returns, presumably during the Champions Trophy, then Sehwag will have to move down the order.

It will mean the restoration of Ganguly-Tendulkar pair at the top of the order with Sehwag being pushed presumably at number four.

It is well known that Sehwag prefers to bat in the middle order but his swashbuckling approach at the crease has often tempted his team to try him out at the top where he could make use of the first 15 overs.

But now with him failing regularly, the team would be left with no option but to push him down the order.

At The Oval yesterday, he came good with the ball and there have been sparkling efforts in the field but it is his batting where lies his biggest utility for the team.

But with Sehwag not being able to a give a strong base of score to the team, India could have a new opening pair in the Champions Trophy and the Delhi batsman, who has played most of his matches as an opener for four years last, could be displaced.

He might not be dropped yet from the team but he surely would have a new order.