Sehwag out of world cup rumor doing rounds, Manager says Viru fit for Ireland game

Virender Sehwag and Ashish Nehra are fit and available for India’s next match against Ireland in Bangalore on Sunday, team manager Ranjib Biswal said on Wednesday.

“Both Sehwag and Nehra are match-fit and available for selection for the Ireland game,” Biswal said from Bangalore.

While opener Sehwag, who was hit by a ball from a local bowler at a net practice session at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore, had come to Delhi to consult a physiotherapist, left-arm pacer Nehra is in Bangalore with the team. Nehra missed India’s both matches owing to a back problem.

As Sehwag was hit on Friday, two days before India’s second game against England, there was some concern in the Indian camp. He, however, batted without any obvious pain the next day and scored a 26-ball 35 against England in the match that ended in a thrilling tie on Sunday.

According to Biswal, Sehwag was scheduled to return to Bangalore by Wednesday. “He is coming back and joining the team by this evening,” he added. Sehwag’s coach Amar Nath Sharma said he too was a bit worried when Sehwag got hit.

“I usually don’t call him, as per the standing between us; I SMS him when I need to talk to him and he calls back. But when it’s an injury like that to your ward, you do get concerned. I sent an SMS to him that day, enquiring about his well being and he called back to say he was fine,” Sharma said.

Meanwhile, senior players such as Sachin Tendulkar chose to give the optional practice a miss while eight other members of Indian team, including skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, had a one-hour training session at the NCA on Wednesday, ahead of their Group B clash against Ireland on Sunday.