Delhi Daredevils opener Virender Sehwag is likely to play against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League tie here at the Ferozeshah Kotla Friday.
Virender Sehwag
Sehwag was seen practicing at the Daredevils camp at the Kotla nets here Thursday. The 34-year-old batted for approximately 25 minutes when Irfan Pathan, South African spinner Johan Botha, and West Indian pacer Andre Russel bowled to him. He looked confident while playing his shots.
The former Daredevils captain missed the first three matches, which the side lost, and the Delhi-based team are in dire need of their star batsman. The explosive opener missed the games due to back spasm.
"Sehwag is definitely improving. We will take a call tomorrow. He is a big player for us and his return will be massive for the team," said all-rounder Morne Morkel after a practice session.
India's Virender Sehwag has created history with a score of 201 not out in just 140 balls. He beats Sachin Tendulkar's record of 200 not out.
Team India is on a brilliant start with 357 for the loss of three wickets in 44 overs. Openers Virender Sehwag and Guatam Gambhir gave the home side a push in the fourth ODI versus West Indies.
Sehwag has put up a tunning performance, enthralling fans gathered at the Holkar stadium in Indore. With a score of 201, not out, breaking his ODI high score record of 175.
At the crease with Sehwag is Rohit Sharma.
Suresh Raina, 55 scored his first ODI fifty versus West Indies just before getting run out to Russell.
Earlier in the day, India won the toss in Indore on Thursday, and opted to bat this time against the West Indies in the fourth ODI cricket match in the series in Indore.
One change in the Indian team is Rahul Sharma, a debutant legspinner, replaces Umesh Yadav in the playing eleven. The inclusion of Rahul Sharma will mean that all Irfan Pathan fans will not get to see him play at Indore.
On Monday, West Indies won the third ODI, proving that they are good enough to beat the world champions.
India will be looking to wrap up the series, which they lead by a 2-1 score, with a win on Thursday. India, will also be hoping that the top order batsmen, especially V Sehwag and G Gambhir, who have failed with the bat in the series, get to fire big scores.
All eyes will be on Virender Sehwag as the Indian cricket team look to get their act together in their two-day match against Northants beginning Friday.
India have plenty of issues to address as they prepare to salvage pride and their world No.1 ranking in the remaining two Tests after getting a drubbing in the first two. The third Test begins Aug 10 at Edgbaston.
Pace spearhead Zaheer Khan and Sehwag's opening partner Gautam Gambhir will also test themselves after being sidelined for the second Test at Trent Bridge with injuries. Zaheer strained his hamstring in the first innings of the Lord's Test and since then the left-armer has been warming the bench. Gambhir bruised his elbow after being hit by Jonathan Trott.
Sehwag missed the series against West Indies and the first two Tests against England because of a shoulder surgery. With Indian batting barely being able to stand up against the English attack, Sehwag is looked upon as a rescuer. It will be tough for the charismatic opener though to find his feet against the moving ball. The two-day match will be his best chance to get some vital match practice before the third Test.
Sehwag has been a game changer for India and the team needs a touch of inspiration that can lift its morale. The Delhi dasher has done that numerous time in the past as he is known to take the fight to the opposition.
He has scored his Test runs at a quicker pace than anyone else. Of his 22 Test centuries, 14 have been scores of more than 150. When India beat England in Chennai in 2008, chasing a remarkable 387 to win on a turning pitch, it was Sehwag who stunned the visitors on the fourth evening, racing to a 68-ball 83.
Sehwag was not selected for India's tour here in 2007 and in 2002 he scored a century at Trent Bridge, but still averaged just less than 40 in the four Tests.
Overall, in the three formats in 39 matches against England he has made just two hundreds.
Northampton captain Andrew Hall said they will not make it easy for the visitors.
"We've got a strong (bowling) line-up that can really keep them down and get wickets," Hall told BBC Radio.
"It's going to be good to get in there, work them over and get some wickets -- to put guys under pressure. We don't want them to have it all their way."
Virender Sehwag has been ruled out of the rest of the IPL matches this season as he will undergo a surgery on his injured shoulder, a development which may also make him unavailable for India's forthcoming tour of the West Indies. James Hopes has been named the captain for Delhi Daredevils, for the rest of the season.
Delhi Daredevils CEO Amrit Mathur said that Sehwag will be proceeding to England for the surgery.
Sehwag missed the ODI series against South Africa (December-January) for the same reason but was declared fit in time for the World Cup after having undergone rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.
“It will be a miracle if he plays another match,” PB Vanchi, director of GMR Sports, owners of Delhi Daredevils, said. He will fly to London on Wednesday to be treated by Dr. Andrew Wallace.
