Big Game today in ICC World Cup 2011 : India vs England Preview

Its Sunday and the perfect time for the big match of the nation where there are largest number of cricket fans, followers compared to any other nation in the world, India is all set to register their 2nd win of the tournament, however millions of Indian fans must have skipped a heartbeat or two after the news of Virender Sehwag getting hit in the ribs while batting at a net session here on Friday.

But by the evening, the Indian camp said that Sehwag would play Sunday’s key World Cup game against England. Indian team manager Ranjib Biswal said the Delhi batsman, who hit a career-best 175 in the team’s big win over Bangladesh in Dhaka on February 19, and Yuvraj Singh were fit to play the day-night game. “He is fine and will play the game against England. Yuvraj, too, is fine and fit to play,” Biswal said.

While Sehwag was hit in the rib cage and fell on to the ground behind the stumps after he failed to negotiate an awkward bouncer from a local pace bowler, Yuvraj was hit on his hand by a beamer from Sreesanth on Thursday. It is said that the pitch at the National Cricket Academy was not properly rolled which led to the awkward bounce that laid Sehwag low.

N Srinivasan, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), too sought to dismiss all concerns. “Sehwag was hit on the left ribcage in the nets earlier on Friday. He is currently under medication. However, he is expected to be fit for the match against England today,” he said in a statement. The other highlight of the practice session was that Sachin Tendulkar spent an unusually long time batting at the nets, more than one-and-a-half hours.

He, however, did not bat at a stretch and took breaks before a variety of bowlers, including throw downs from coach Gary Kirsten. Left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra, who did not play the Bangladesh game due to a back injury, bowled from a full run-up, indicating that he has recovered and is ready for selection. Nehra could replace Sreesanth, who was the most expensive Indian bowler in Dhaka.

A few hours after the Indian team’s practice session ended, heavy showers lashed the venue and other parts of the city. Puddles of water were formed in the stadium outfield but the pitch was well covered. Whether or not it was affected will only be known on Saturday when the covers are removed. The rains came even as the English team’s practice session was coming to an end.

Meanwhile, a tight security clampdown will be in place in and around the stadium to provide foolproof security to players and fans during the high-profile match, the city police chief said.